The Foundation for Managed Derivatives Research (FMDR) has appointed Damian Handzy to serve on its Board as a director.
The Foundation for Managed Derivatives Research (FMDR) has appointed Damian Handzy to serve on its Board as a director.

Handzy joins the FMDR Board to replace Randy Warsager, who stepped down following eight years of service. FMDR is a foundation established by Managed Funds Association (MFA) in 1994 to support scholarly research on the use of derivative instruments. MFA is the primary association representing professionals in the hedge fund industry.

Handzy is chairman & CEO of Investor Analytics, Inc, a leading risk analysis and risk management specialist to the hedge fund industry. Before co-founding Investor Analytics, he was a consultant in Deloitte's New York practice where he advised financial services firms on business and technical issues including risk management, Internet-based customer reporting and data management. He has also held positions as a Research Fellow at a major U.S. nuclear laboratory and as an operations research analyst for a boutique consulting firm.

Handzy is extensively published in scientific peer-reviewed and financial journals. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his doctorate in nuclear physics while working at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory in Michigan.

Warsager, who exits the Board, is vice president, Alternative Investments Group, Calyon Financial Inc.

Additional members of the FMDR Board include FMDR Chairman Emeritus Dr. Peter Matthews, Optimation Investment Management LLC; FMDR Co-Treasurer Corey McLaughlin, Arthur F Bell, Jr & Associates LLC; FMDR Co-Treasurer Keith Stafford, Arthur F Bell Jr. & Associates LLC; Dana Comolli, DMAXX, LLC; Jules Staniewicz, John W Henry & Company, Inc; Virginia R Parker, Parker Global Strategies, LLC; and Sol Waksman, Barclay Trading Group, Ltd.

The Foundation for Managed Derivatives Research provides grants for economics, business and financial research that examine, on a scholarly basis, the use of derivative instruments as an investment vehicle. Derivative instruments may include futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, and swaps. The growth of these markets has led to increasing involvement by institutions and individuals for investment purposes. As a result, there is demand of academic research considering the advantages and disadvantages of including managed derivatives in investment portfolios. Grants are available to universities, colleges, academic foundations, academic institutions, individuals, and research entities.