Steve returned to USA in 2022 after 15 years overseas in Hong Kong and Dubai. He came back to manage nearly 100 people as Director of Strategy, Ops & Tech with Five Star Bank, 400 miles Northwest of New York City. That was cool. But now the next chapter begins…
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Steve has a track record of professional accomplishments in banking, consulting, and management including entrepreneurial startups, distressed turnarounds, and complex projects spanning global companies. He helped launch Hong Kong’s first STO (Security Token Offering), the HCS Whisky Fund.
He had successful interim executive assignments in three time zones including investor pitches, product launches, setting up teams, building out operations in a new country, and developing budgeting tools for an international consultancy as interim Global Finance Director.
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His banking experience includes regional chief admin & risk officer roles plus global & regional responsibilities for internal controls, KRI’s and “people stuff” (training, workshops, events, town halls) for Morgan Stanley in NYC and Hong Kong.
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Steve began his career with Arthur Andersen in NYC before getting his MBA from NYU Stern. He spent several years in asset management and consulting before joining Morgan Stanley. He went on to head Finance & Administration for North American offices of an expanding European bank before the 2008 financial crisis.
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He then moved UAE to head CFO projects and firmwide operations for a regional investment bank before providing outsourced CFO services across the Emirates. In 2010, he rejoined Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong with coverage of the Asia Pacific region. Six years later he jumped into the Hong Kong startup sector as a “hands on” leader of a FoodTech startup, a loyalty app, and blockchain fintech.
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Contact Steve with questions, feedback, or just to say “hi”. Click these buttons for more info about his international experience.
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Resume Summary
Accomplished executive with extensive experience in strategy, operations, and technology within banking, finance and fintech. Proven track record in managing large teams, driving process transformation, and leading complex projects across multiple geographies including Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Exceptional communicator with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of banking and fintech ecosystems.
Professional Experience
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Five Star Bank
Director of Strategy, Operations, and Technology
Western New York | 2022 – Jun 2024
Led a team of nearly 100 associates across Infrastructure Technology, Product Management, Operations, Business Analysis, and RPA.
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Deep Water Management
Principal Consultant
Hong Kong | 2020 – 2022
Managed consulting work part-time while family’s primary caregiver during COVID-19 restrictions.
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Loopnest Accelerator / Up Blockhain
COO
Hong Kong | 2018 – 2020
Launched Hong Kong’s first security token, HCS Whisky Fund & managed compliance / licensing for blockchain sister companies
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Deep Water Management
Principal Consultant
Hong Kong | 2016 – 2018
Startup capital raising, launch support, management and financial modeling,
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Morgan Stanley
Vice President
Hong Kong | 2010 – 2016
Risk Officer and Chief Admin Officer for AsiaPac Finance Division.
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Montgomery Woodrow | Co-Founder & Principal Consultant
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SHUAA Capital | SVP, Head of Ops & PMO
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Glitnir Capital | Director of Finance and Operations
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Morgan Stanley | Senior Manager
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Hottinger Capital | Associate
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Arthur Andersen LLP | Senior Associate
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Education
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New York University, Stern School of Business
MBA in Finance and Management
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Dominican College
Bachelor of Science in Accounting | May 1999
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Completed Certification Exams
CPA Exam in New York State, 1998
Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trader’s Responsible Officer Exam in Hong Kong, 2016
HKSI Paper 1 – Fundamentals of Securities and Futures Regulation, 2019
HKSI Paper 2 – Regulation of Securities, 2019
HKSI Paper 6 – Regulation of Asset Management, 2019
This is not me.