Our team

Russ Goyenko, Ph.D
President & CEO

Russ Goyenko is an Associate Professor of Finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management. He has previously held academic positions at the University of Toronto, Notre Dame University, and most recently, as a visiting scholar at the Yale School of Management. In addition to his academic career, Russ brings extensive industry experience, having served as a consultant for risk management groups, private asset management firms, and equity options market-making companies.

With over 20 years of quantitative research expertise in financial markets, Russ has authored numerous studies published in prestigious peer-reviewed finance journals. In the summer of 2020, he founded the AI in Finance Initiative: Financial Innovations and Risk Management Labs, a research hub aimed at bridging the gap between financial economics and computer science. The initiative focuses on developing fundamental and practical applications of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in asset management and finance more broadly.

In October 2024, Russ, in collaboration with McGill University and FIAM, launched the world’s first Asset Management Hackathon, involving universities across Canada. This groundbreaking competition integrates the latest technology and big data into portfolio management practices, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in the field.

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Vadim di Pietro, Ph.D
CCO and Advising Representative

Vadim di Pietro serves as Chief Investment Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and registered Advising Representative for Desautels Capital Management, Canada’s first university-owned and student-run registered investment management firm.

Vadim joined McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management in 2009. Before that, he worked as an investment strategist at J.P. Morgan in London from 2007 to 2009, where he gained valuable experience in global financial markets.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (B.Eng.) from McGill University, a Master’s in Mathematical Finance from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Vadim is also a CFA charterholder, demonstrating his commitment to the highest standards of professional excellence in finance.

Wenyu Jiao
Quantitative Analyst

Wenyu Jiao is a quantitative analyst with a robust academic foundation spanning finance, mathematics, and data science. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Finance at McGill University, where her research focuses on financial markets, quantitative modeling, and the application of data-driven methodologies to enhance financial decision-making.

Wenyu holds a Master’s degree in Financial Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University, where she developed advanced expertise in time series analysis, stochastic processes, machine learning, and derivatives pricing. Her undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Economics at NYU further solidified her multidisciplinary approach to solving complex financial challenges, blending rigorous analytical skills with a deep understanding of economic systems.