In 2018 Hazem took over the SME Forum and focuses most of his efforts there. Since its founding more than 15 years ago, The Forum has been a growing dynamic community of practitioners from the Asset Management industry who have roles in supporting the Sales, Marketing, Operations and Technology departments of their respective organizations.  The deep degrees of trust in sharing best practices, avoiding pitfalls, and learning from one another are hallmarks of how valuable this community continues to be for each firm and the individual employees.

As one of the original members, he has been a continual driver of the Forum’s growth and maturity since its inception in 2003.  Initially the senior representative for OppenheimerFunds, he grew to be a leader in the development of the CRM Forum,  providing  guidance,  mentorship,  facilitation  and participation in various aspect of the organization’s events over the years.  Hazem took over ownership and primary responsibilities for running the organization in 2018.  He also continues to provide consulting services to the industry under his Thoth Advisory Services organization.

Prior to the Forum, Hazem spent more than fifteen years at OppenheimerFunds in several different roles, always as a proven change agent to help define and implement appropriate and necessary improvements to propel the business.  He worked  most closely with the sales and marketing divisions directing their technology needs and adoption, onboarding third-party services, in addition to portfolios such as data management, reporting and analytics, business continuity and disaster recovery, among other responsibilities.

Mario began his career at Lord Abbett leading the firm’s effort to build Sales & Marketing data analytics functions, develop digital marketing strategies and create a comprehensive client touch point data analysis to facilitate client segmentation, predictive analytics, lead management, and CRM engagement. Through this work, he initiated a wholesaler training program to drive adoption of both the data & technology to help meet business plan goals.

Most recently Mario served as Chief Transformation Officer responsible for leading change management in Lord Abbett’s Technology and Operations areas in an effort to enhance agility throughout the firm. This included overseeing the integration of data management and analytics, reporting, and technology to increase efficiency, create an information advantage, and drive transformation across the organization. In this role, Mario led key initiatives such as; the migration of the firm’s Middle Office platform through a Strategic Partnership with a leading provider in the industry, provided strategic thought leadership, implementation planning & development for the firm’s move to a new Investment Management Solution and the development of a strategic product & client data platform for new product launches, customer acquisition/onboarding, lifecycle, and retention initiatives through interactive data analytics, visualization, & management tools.

Corey is a dynamic and accomplished leader with 23+ years of experience in the financial services industry.  He began his career in 1999 as a Personal Financial Advisor with Ameriprise and has worked for other firms such as AIG Sun America, JPMorgan Chase and Legg Mason and Alliance Bernstein.  Corey is currently the Head of Distribution Data, Intelligence and Sales Enablement at Voya Investment Management.  In his previous role at Alliance Bernstein, he served as VP/Director of Business Intelligence and Sales Enablement where he was responsible for managing data initiatives to identify insights and present information to drive key decisions for the North America Client Group. 

Corey graduated from The Ohio State University in 1999.  He currently lives in NJ with wife Alissa and their two daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Matt is a director of US Intermediary Marketing at Invesco and leads the strategic marketing efforts for the Advisor, Platform and Professional Buyer clients. In this role, Matt and his team are responsible for developing the marketing strategy and driving execution of the client experience and key campaigns and events across multiple channels to drive sales, brand engagement, and client loyalty.

Matt brings 15 years of experience across both the wealth and asset management industry in marketing and communications, joining Invesco in 2019 through the firm’s acquisition of OppenheimerFunds, where he led the US Advisor integrated marketing team. He held several roles prior to that including Defined Contribution Investment Only (DCIO) marketing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), and as part of Merrill Lynch and Bank of America supporting Merrill Edge sales enablement and communications as well as Merrill Lynch Personal Retirement channel management.

Matt graduated with a B.A., cum laude, with honors, in English Literature from Villanova University, received his Executive IQ Certification from the Money Management Institute (MMI) and the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, and is design thinking certified. He lives in Maplewood, NJ with his wife, two children, and their dog – all of whom he is passionately converting to Philadelphia sports fans.

Anthony Busacca is a highly accomplished business professional with more than 35 years of experience in the corporate world, as well as over 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur. He has a proven track record of success in driving growth, managing teams, and delivering results across a range of industries.

Mr. Busacca began his career in the financial sector, holding senior leadership positions in finance, operations, and business development at several prominent companies. He honed his skills in strategic planning, financial analysis, and team management, and gained deep expertise in industries such as banking, insurance, and investment management.

In 2009, Mr. Busacca made the leap into entrepreneurship, founding his own company focused on providing innovative solutions in the financial services industry. As the CEO of his own firm, he demonstrated his ability to identify new opportunities, develop effective strategies, and build high-performing teams.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Busacca has earned a reputation as a dynamic and results-driven leader. He is known for his ability to think strategically, execute effectively, and drive growth in even the most challenging environments. He has a proven ability to develop and motivate teams, and to build strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels of an organization.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Busacca is also actively involved in his community. He has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and is committed to giving back and making a positive impact in the world.

Overall, Anthony Busacca is a seasoned business professional with a diverse range of experience and a proven track record of success. Whether in the corporate world or as an entrepreneur, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive growth, deliver results, and create value for stakeholders.

Jill is a dynamic and motivated executive with a compelling track record of accomplishments, characterized by the adept establishment and nurturing of relationships, innovative thinking that prioritizes business objectives, and a capacity to adapt to the current corporate landscape. Boasting a rare amalgamation of expertise in business, communication, sales, and technology, Jill’s career has been marked by exceptional client adoption and satisfaction, a testament to her passion for leadership and mentorship. 

Her success is rooted in a unique combination of traits, including a continuous willingness to learn, a genuine ability to actively listen to customer needs, a penchant for challenging the status quo, a preference for embracing disruption over comfort, and a profound dedication to prioritizing customer requirements. Jill’s professional journey reflects a commitment to excellence and a strategic focus on putting the customer at the forefront of every endeavor. 

Inderjit S Chhatwal is a veteran of the Asset Management and Technology domains, with over 30 years of experience in IT, of which about two-third has been in managing IT efforts for Asset/Wealth Management. Inderjit’s broad and deep understanding of mutual funds distribution business, related technologies and data affords him to lend a unique blend of both business and technology perspectives.

Inderjit managed multiple technology teams working on various CRM and data efforts for the Sales and Distribution business line for Oppenheimer Funds, with overall responsibility from inception to adoption. His keen interest in latest technology trends brought Design Thinking approach to Oppenheimer as well as utilization of data science for predictive modeling. Prior to Oppenheimer, Inderjit was leading the Distribution Technology team supporting sales and marketing efforts at Allianz Global Investors.  

I am an enthusiastic Long Islander who loves the world of analytics and where it’s taking us. I saw the opportunity to pivot into analytics during my Master’s program at Syracuse University and have never looked back. With the help of those at FS Investments, I can confidently say that my skills have grown exponentially in just three short years.

Loren Fox is the Director of Research at FUSE Research Network, a provider of business intelligence and consulting for investment management firms. He’s responsible for leading the research team and managing client support, as well as contributing to the firm’s research publications and interfacing with industry executives.

Before joining FUSE, Loren spent nearly 10 years as the director of Ignites Research, a unit of the Financial Times and complement to the Ignites news site that produced original research on strategic issues in the asset management industry; he also created and ran the annual rankings of US financial advisors that appeared in the Financial Times from 2013 through 2020. Previously, he was a senior research analyst at Strategic Insight, producing market intelligence on the mutual fund industry. Prior to that, Loren was a business journalist for many years, having worked at Institutional Investor, Business 2.0, and other publications, and he is the author of the book Enron: The Rise and Fall (2002).

As an industry expert, Loren has spoken at numerous conferences and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other publications. He earned his BA from Johns Hopkins University and his MS from Columbia University.

Patrick is the Northern U.S. Divisional Manager for the Wealth Management channel of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, leading a team of Client Advisors based in the Northern U.S. Prior to this role, Patrick was the Head of the Wealth Management and Institutional Advisor channel for the Global Strategic Relationships Group within JPMorgan Asset Management.

Patrick has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. He started his career in 1998 with Merrill Lynch. His roles have included financial advisor, client advisor, relationship manager, and sales manager.  Patrick joined J.P. Morgan Asset Management in 2010. He holds FINRA Series 7, 66, and 24 licenses and has the CIMA®  as well as the CFP® designation.

Patrick lives in Bernardsville, NJ with his wife and three children.

Dennis Gallant is an Associate Director and Product Engagement Specialist at ISS Market Intelligence.

Dennis is an industry expert with over 25 years of diverse experience providing research and consulting services for the asset management, wealth management, and financial advisor markets. His coverage includes investment product distribution, advisor portfolio construction, model portfolios, the TAMP marketplace, the independent advisor/RIA market, direct indexing, retirement income, digital/hybrid advice, advisor recruiting, and the transition to advice/planning. Prior to this, he was a Strategic Advisor with Aite Novarica Group’s Wealth Management practice, managed his own consulting firm (GDC Research), and was a Director at Cerulli Associates.

Dennis conducts numerous presentations for client and industry conferences and is often quoted in industry trade publications, including WSJ, Investment News, Financial Advisor Magazine, Financial Planning, Ignites, and Institutional Investor

Vince Grogan is a seasoned financial services marketing leader having built and led marketing teams at some of the top firms in wealth and asset management, including Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, OppenheimerFunds and most recently as the first Director of Marketing for Lord Abbett.

Vince has more than 20 years of experience in creating and implementing innovative marketing and brand strategies for institutional, private wealth and retail asset management, wealth management, and retirement businesses. He has worked extensively on brand strategy, integrated marketing, digital experience, content strategy and digital marketing infrastructure.

Barney, is a seasoned problem-solver and co-founder of Meritus Business Solutions, known for his excellence, focus, and commitment. He leads business operations and software functions at Meritus, cultivating lasting relationships with clients in financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing.

As a driving force behind the company’s high-value solutions in Customer Relationship Management and Business Process Management, Barney’s approach is built on trust, credibility, and extensive experience. Meritus has become a trusted partner for clients seeking innovative and tailored solutions

Bill Hortz is a business innovation writer, independent business consultant, and Founder/Dean of the financial services business innovation focused Institute for Innovation Development.

Bill has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms; entrepreneurially pioneering new markets in the early days of the financial advisor fee-based movement and financial alliance programs in the US;  and created many non-traditional and engaging advisor educational events with major financial firms including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman, Peregrine Asset Management (HK), and Templeton Funds Distributors.

His wide-ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation, and strategic account management as the nexus of business forces needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.

Bill loves working with senior executives, sales/strategic account departments, and financial advisor teams in developing effective ways of using innovation resources and developing innovation skills. He considers himself a life-long “student of human nature” and is well known for his enthusiasm, creativity, and resourcefulness.

Bill is married, with two grown children (and 2 grandchildren!), living in the Tampa Bay area. He enjoys reading, engaged conversation, bicycling, spelunking, and traveling with his family.  

Little known facts: Bill worked on the last remaining docks of NYC as an underage teen, worked for the man in Hong Kong that the book Tai-Pan was based on, and constantly seeks out off-off-off broadway theatre, performance art, live music performance, and modern art museums.

Trained in engineering, research, and psychology (B.S. in Psychology, Kansas State University), Todd Neese has worked at a psychiatric research and training hospital (coordinating treatment outcome studies), a variable annuity company (coordinating customer information management), a major research university (coordinating business intelligence for the Vice Provost for Research), an insurance and asset management company, Athene / Aviva / AmerUs (leading business intelligence, sales and marketing related reporting and analytics, and data governance), and for the most recent eight years at Janus Henderson Investors as the Global Head of Business Intelligence and Distribution Operations.  In each of these opportunities, he was responsible for building out and improving business intelligence capabilities.  The central theme of his career has been using information to drive better decision making.

While at Janus Henderson for the past 8 years, Todd has been responsible for building the Business Intelligence and Distribution Operations function globally – transforming the focus from sales reporting of what has happened to suggesting what we could do to acquire more clients, to serve, grow and retain our existing clients, and to enable our sales and marketing teams to optimize their time and efforts by presenting the right idea to the right client at the right time.  His Teams focus on delivering Competitive and Market Intelligence, Data and Solution Driven Selling Opportunities, Outcomes Analyses, Distribution Enablement and Advanced Analytics, CRM Training and Support, AUM & Flows Processing and Reporting, and Sales Reporting.

Career development (his own and those with whom he works), community involvement, and corporate responsibility are extremely important to Todd.  He led the establishment of the Insuring a Future Program at Aviva, which provided two “retroactive life insurance” awards for uninsured or underinsured non-customer recipients in need, through a corporate and community agency team.  He led an enhanced employee leadership development team, which delivered 11 department-wide Finance continuing education sessions, expanded employee recognition, and launched a mentorship program.  His teams are regularly involved in Habitat for Humanity-type events; and he has chaired the Leadership Level Giving effort within the Aviva United Way Campaign for three years.  In the past, he has served as the president of the Board of Directors of a (United Way sponsored) Crisis Counseling Center.

Todd’s daily goal is to improve the company and his team in everything that he does – with the desired impact being increased collaboration and insight.  Innovation, integrity, fairness, humor, and quality are central values driving his actions.  His Real Deal cards (PEAK Learning) are Being Challenged, Contributing to a worthy cause, Freedom to innovate, Respect, and Humor/Laughter; and his Deal Breaker is Enthusiasm / Passion.  With his roots in academic settings, he views a central part of his role as a leader to help develop the next generation of leaders and to help those on his team achieve their aspirations.

Todd and his wife, Barb, have been married for 15 years and have no children of their own.  However, they have many nieces and nephews whom they adore and spoil.  Outside of work his passions include music, culinary adventures, and art.

Mr. Petersen is the Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Cybersecurity Officer at Causeway Capital Management LLC and has been with the firm since its inception in June 2001. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Petersen was the Senior Engineer at the Hotchkis & Wiley division of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (HW-MLIM) where he was responsible for managing data center operations and overall infrastructure. Prior to that, Mr. Petersen held various development and engineering roles at technology firms in Silicon Valley including Applied Materials, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, and SCO Unix. He holds executive certificates from Johns Hopkins in Data Science, MIT in Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and Pepperdine in Financial Technology. Additionally, Mr. Petersen has completed the Business Analytics Program at Harvard and the CTO program at Wharton.

Mr. Petersen studied philosophy at North Carolina Wesleyan University and holds professional certificates from Microsoft, CISCO, Oracle, IBM, and 3Com.  He lives in Southern California with his wife and has two college-aged children.

Jon is a seasoned digital product and data leader, renowned for his transformative strategies. With a focus on ROI and agile methodologies, he excels in revitalizing teams and processes. With a proven track record in managing teams of 40+, his expertise lies in implementing automation, leveraging data science, and fostering continuous growth.

Jon’s track record is impressive, with successful multi-platform CRM transformations and global client data overhauls resulting in financial savings and automation. He is known for unifying digital infrastructures, reducing project timelines, and fostering a thriving work environment. 

An inspirational executive, Jon bridges digital transformations, product lifecycle management, and data analytics. His leadership in transitioning to Agile methodologies optimizes efficiency and promotes organizational agility. He is not only about systems but also fostering change and innovation, exemplified by his enterprise-wide Business Resource Group. 

Jon’s educational background includes an Executive MBA from Rutgers Business School and studies in Corporate Innovation at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rutgers University. 

Perry Rotella is currently the Managing Director, Financial Services for Box. Prior to Box, Perry spent more than 25 years in executive leadership roles including Financial Services Industry Specialist at Amazon Web Services, Senior Executive Partner at Gartner, CIO and Group Executive at Verisk Analytics, CIO at Moody’s Corporation, and Global CTO at AIG.

Perry holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.  He also graduated with executive certificates in Management and Leadership from MIT Sloan School of Management, and Global Marketing from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

When he’s not busy helping customers, Perry is an avid outdoorsman who loves hiking, biking, fishing, and camping.  He also loves spending time with his two boys, cooking international cuisine, and playing ice hockey.

Joe joined WisdomTree in June of 2020 and primarily focuses on the sales and distribution of the WisdomTree-Siegel Multi-Asset Income models at Merrill.

Prior to joining WisdomTree, Joe spent 13 years in various roles at Merrill Lynch; the last 7 years with the Investment Advisory Team as an Investment Advisory Specialist. Joe’s role at Merrill included portfolio construction, portfolio analysis, providing timely and actionable investment recommendations and helping advisors transition their book to a more scalable and efficient practice.

In his free time, Joe enjoys golf, baseball and working out near his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut.

As head of RMG Distribution Intelligence, Mark manages a team responsible for the marketing and distribution of data to asset managers to help drive sales engagement within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

He has been with Morgan Stanley since January, 2004 in various capacities including many years as a Consulting Group Regional Sales Director and various roles aligning the mutual interests of the Firm and asset management partners.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mark has held various asset manager sales positions in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Cleveland and other areas of the Midwest.

Mark is a graduate of Kent State University.

Keith is a seasoned financial professional with a proven track record of driving exceptional sales results and building high-performing teams in the investment industry. With over two decades of experience, Keith has consistently delivered outstanding results, most notably achieving $3 billion in new sales in 2022 for Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions, where he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Internal Sales. He has a demonstrated ability to foster relationships with key industry players, design and implement effective sales strategies, and lead diverse teams to success. Keith’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his various professional designations and awards, including being named the 2014 DCIO Consultant of the Year.

Throughout his career, Keith has been a dynamic force in the financial world, having managed multi-billion-dollar sales teams, developed training programs, and played a vital role in building communication pipelines across departments. His expertise in consultative sales, portfolio analytics, and practice management has consistently driven success. Keith’s dedication to achieving and exceeding sales goals, combined with his commitment to building lasting client relationships, sets him apart as a financial leader of exceptional caliber.

As an active member of industry organizations and with a solid educational foundation in psychology, Keith S. Stecker continues to shape the financial landscape. With a strong focus on results, integrity, and client satisfaction, Keith is a prominent figure in the financial industry, setting the standard for excellence in sales and leadership. Connect with Keith on LinkedIn to stay updated on his contributions to the world of finance.

Jodi is a highly accomplished Global Business and Technology Managing Consultant, boasting a wealth of experience within Fortune 100 companies across Sales, Marketing, Service, and Technology domains. With a proven track record, she excels in collaborating with both business and technology sectors to successfully drive business transformation and implement innovative solutions. Jodi has served as a former Product Owner and Manager for Salesforce organizations in the financial services and insurance sectors, demonstrating expertise across all project phases, from initiation to production support. Recognized as a self-starter, Jodi possesses a proven ability to navigate complex challenges while assuming leadership and consulting roles. 

In addition to her professional achievements, Jodi is a passionate advocate for diversity and empowerment. As a facilitator for the #IamRemarkable initiative, she plays a pivotal role in conducting workshops and serving as an ambassador within her personal and professional networks. #IamRemarkable aims to empower women and underrepresented groups to openly discuss their accomplishments, challenging societal modesty norms and shattering glass ceilings.  To learn more about this transformative initiative, please visit g.co/IamRemarkable. 

Jeff Strange is a Strategic Business Consultant for SS&C Research, Analytics, and Consulting, where he partners with leading asset managers to support the WalletShare analytics platform.  

He has subject matter expertise on distribution strategy, separately managed accounts (SMAs), and alternatives. Jeff previously served as DST kasina’s Director of Research, along with experience at FUSE, Strategic Insight, and Cerulli.

Jeff graduated from Georgetown University and is a CAIA charterholder.

Davis has more than 15 years of experience advising investment managers as a consultant and investment banker. He has partnered with managers to address strategic issues related to distribution, marketing, and product development. Prior to joining Broadridge, Davis led the Investment Management practice at Greenwich Associates and was a Director in Barclays Investment Banking FIG practice where he provided M&A and capital markets advice.

Davis received his BS in Finance and Economics from Lehigh University and his MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Simeon Wilson serves as the Digital Marketing and Analytics Lead at Causeway Capital Management LLC. In this role, Simeon works to enhance performance of the firm’s business development group, by leveraging advanced data and technology to drive asset acquisition and retention. Prior to joining Causeway, he worked in the mortgage finance industry as an Associate Vice President of Data Science, where he led a team of data scientists to build and implement advanced AI models to make real time purchase and allocation decisions on billions in daily loan volume.

Simeon earned his master’s degree in quantitative economics from UCLA. He currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife, who is pursuing her PhD in Communications from UCSB.