Investment Professionals
Investment Oversight
Gregory Krenzer, CFA
- Head of Investment Risk responsible for monitoring risks affecting portfolio management, trading, and portfolio performance and Co-Operating Officer for active strategies
- Previously served in portfolio management and as Head of Active Trading with extensive experience in commodities, natural resource equities and emerging markets
- Joined VanEck in 1994
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BS (Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society), Finance (minor in Economics), Syracuse University
Commodities
Chris Mailloux, CFA
- Head of Active Trading
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the Commodity Index Strategy and Morningstar Wide Moat Fund
- Joined VanEck in 2007
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BS, Finance, Lehigh University
Roland Morris Jr.
- Portfolio Manager for the Commodity Index Strategy and Commodities Strategist for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior experience as a macro/commodities trading specialist; manager of futures clearing and execution services and client relationship management
- BA, Economics, University of Vermont
Digital Assets
Matthew Bartlett
- Head of NFT Community & Web3
- Joined VanEck in 2013
- Prior to current role, served as Head of Internal Sales at VanEck
- Previous roles included Outbound Manager of the Northeast Division at Franklin Templeton
- Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)
- NFT and Blockchain Expert Certifications from Blockchain Council
- BS, Technology Management, Saint Petersburg College
Patrick Bush
- Senior Analyst
- Joined VanEck in 2022
- Prior to VanEck, Head of Cryptocurrency Trading at Alphabit Trading LLC
- Previous roles included Senior Manager at Pitney Bowes and Senior Fixed Income Trader at DRW Holdings LLC.
- MBA, Duke University
- BA Economics, University of Chicago
Nathan Frankovitz
- Analyst
- Joined VanEck in 2024
- Previous roles included Virtual Assets Analyst at the New York State Attorney General, where he served as the subject matter expert on crypto fraud investigations; Prior to that, he was a Research Analyst at Smith + Crown, Consultant (independent), and Investment Associate at Sarson Funds.
- BS, Marketing and Sales, Indiana University
Pranav Kanade
- Portfolio Manager for the VanEck Digital Assets Alpha Fund
- Joined VanEck in 2022
- Prior to VanEck, Credit Portfolio Manager at Millennium Management
- Previous roles included Head of Research for the Liquid Credit investing business at Angelo, Gordon & Co., Managing Director; Research Analyst at Hutchin Hill Capital, and Research Analyst at UBS
- BS, Finance and Accounting (specialization in Entertainment, Media, and Technology), New York University
Wyatt Lonergan
- General Partner, VanEck Ventures
- Joined VanEck in 2024
- Prior to VanEck, led the corporate investment team for Circle Ventures
- BA, International Business & Management, Dickinson College
Juan Lopez
- Partner, VanEck Ventures
- Joined VanEck in July 2024
- Prior to VanEck, Co-led Circle Ventures funding early-stage investment in over 100 companies, also serving as Product Marketing Manager and Business Development Associate in charge of strategy for their crypto-native segment. Mr. Lopez began his career with IBM as a consultant with expertise in tech transformation and treasury functions.
- B.S. in Finance from Florida State University.
Chris Mailloux, CFA
- Head of Active Trading
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the Commodity Index Strategy and Morningstar Wide Moat Fund
- Joined VanEck in 2007
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BS, Finance, Lehigh University
Mathew Maximo
- Senior Analyst
- Joined VanEck in April 2024
- Prior to VanEck, Matt was a Portfolio Manager and research Analyst at Grayscale.
- BS, Biology (minor in CS), Seattle University
Carlos Nogueira
- Senior Analyst
- Joined VanEck in 2009
- Prior to VanEck, Risk Committee Member and Risk Manager for the Emerging Markets, Foreign Exchange, and Strategic Trading desks at Morgan Stanley
- PhD, Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
- MS, Computer Science, National Institute of Space Research
- BS, Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais
Gabriel Rabello
- Senior Analyst
- Joined VanEck in 2023
- Prior to VanEck, experience in private equity (HIG Capital, Morgan Stanley) and in investment banking, specializing in M&A advisory at Bank of America.
- BS, Business Administration, University of Miami
Matthew Sigel
- Head of Digital Assets Research
- Joined VanEck in 2021
- Prior to VanEck, Portfolio Strategist and author of the widely-read HELLO INVESTORS investment newsletter at CLSA, where he spent 10 years in various sales & research roles
- Previous roles included analyst and portfolio manager on the AllianceBernstein US & Global Thematic equity funds, where he covered technology and other sectors for then thematic CIO Cathie Wood, now CEO of Ark Investments; journalist at Bloomberg, CNBC and NHK Japan Broadcasting, where he covered finance
- CFA charterholder
- BA, English, Harvard University
Equity
Charles Cameron
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 1995
- Prior to VanEck, Trader at Standard Chartered; specialized in Eurobond and emerging markets fixed income securities
- MBA, Finance, New York University
- BS, Finance, Boston College
Imaru Casanova
- Portfolio Manager for active Gold and Precious Metals Strategy and Senior Analyst for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2011
- Prior to VanEck, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at McNicoll Lewis & Vlak; established the firm's metals and mining research department
- Previously, Equity Research Analyst at Barnard Jacobs Mellet USA and BMO Capital Markets and held positions as Production Technologist, Offshore Wellsite Supervisor and Petroleum Engineer for Shell Exploration and Production
- MS, Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
- BS (magna cum laude), Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Antonio De Pinho
- Senior Analyst for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy specializing in energy research
- Joined VanEck in 2019
- Previously, Chief Operating Officer of Energy XXI, Vice President, Exploration and Production U.S. Western & International Divisions at El Paso Corporation and Vice President International Business Development at Devon Energy
- Served in the Portuguese Navy
- Licentiate, Geological Engineering, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
Griffin Driscoll
- Analyst for Equity ETFs
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for multiple Equity Income, Thematic, and Strategic Equity ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2018
- Prior to joining VanEck, ETF Basket Operations Analyst at JPMorgan
- BS, Finance, Providence College
Ola El-Shawarby, CFA
- Portfolio Manager for the active Emerging Markets Equity Strategy
- Oversees the Emerging Markets Equity team including company research, stock selection and portfolio construction
- Joined VanEck in 2017
- Prior to VanEck, Director and Investment Analyst at Caravel Management LLC
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society Egypt
- MBA, Harvard Business School
- BA, (summa cum laude), Business Administration (concentration in Finance), The American University in Cairo
- BS, Political Science (minor in Economics), Cairo University
Joseph Foster
- Gold Strategist for the active Gold and Precious Metals Strategy and the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Oversees the Gold Investment Team including asset allocation, company research and security selection
- Joined VanEck in 1996
- Prior to VanEck, 14 years of dedicated experience in geology and mining; including serving as a Senior Geologist and Mine Exploration Geologist at Pinson Mining Company and Exploration Geologist at Lacana Gold Inc. (Reno, Nevada)
- MBA, University of Nevada-Reno
- MS, Geology, Mackey School of Mines
- BS (magna cum laude), Geology, Tennessee Technological University
Patricia Gonzalez
- Senior Analyst for the active Emerging Markets Equity Strategy specializing in Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
- Joined VanEck in 2014
- Prior to VanEck, Financial Analyst at Newgate Capital Management
- MBA, Loyola University
- BA, Economics, Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela)
Adam Graf, CFA
- Senior Analyst for the active Gold and Precious Metals Strategy and active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2022
- Prior to VanEck, held various sell-side and buy-side equity and commodity analyst positions with a specialty in mining and metals
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BS, Geology, University of Michigan; MS, Ore Deposit Geology, and MBA, Finance, University of Arizona
Janet Hong, CFA
- Analyst for the active Emerging Markets Equity Strategy specializing in Asia
- Joined VanEck in 2024
- Prior to VanEck, Investment Analyst at GQG Partners and Private Equity & Credit Associate at Partners Group
- CFA Charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- MBA, New York University Stern School of Business
- BS, Finance and Economics (minor), University of Pittsburgh
Ammar James
- Analyst for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy specializing in agribusiness, timber and paper and packaging research
- Joined VanEck in 2019
- Prior to VanEck, Associate Investment Director at Cambridge Associates
- BS, Mathematics, SUNY Stony Brook
James Kim
- Head of ETF Capital Markets
- Joined VanEck in 2017
- Prior to VanEck, ETF Capital Markets at iShares/BlackRock, advising clients on accessing capital markets, ETF suitability and best execution
- BS, Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley
Ralph Lasta
- Analyst for Equity ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2019
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for Natural Resources and Country/Regional ETFs
- Prior to VanEck, Intermediate Representative, Exchange Traded Funds at BNY Mellon
- BS, Accounting, Hunter College
Peter Liao, CFA
- Portfolio Manager and Head of Equity ETFs
- Oversees the Equity ETF Investment Management Team including development and management of index replication and optimization strategies
- Joined VanEck in 2005
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BA, Mathematics and Economics, New York University
Charl Malan
- Senior Analyst for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy specializing in base and industrial metals research
- Joined VanEck in 2003
- Prior to VanEck, Equity Research Sales Analyst specializing in South African mining, natural resources and financial research at JPMorgan Chase
- Previously, Equity Research Analyst and Junior Portfolio Manager at Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank, Asset Management (South Africa)
- MBA, University of Stellenbosch (South Africa)
- Honours in Business Administration, University of Stellenbosch (South Africa)
- BA, Arts, University of Pretoria (South Africa)
Roland Morris Jr.
- Portfolio Manager for the Commodity Index Strategy and Commodities Strategist for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior experience as a macro/commodities trading specialist; manager of futures clearing and execution services and client relationship management
- BA, Economics, University of Vermont
Adam Phillips
- Chief Operating Officer of VanEck ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2006; Executive Management Team member since 2012
- Prior to VanEck, founder and managing member of LB Trading, LLC, a proprietary ETF trading firm on the American Stock Exchange
- Previously, Junior General Partner and Management Committee member of Orbit II Partners, L.P., a proprietary trading firm specializing in equity options, index options and ETF market making
- Member of American Stock Exchange, 1996-2006; Amex Floor Official, 2001-2003
- BA, Economics and American Civilization, Lafayette College
Shawn Reynolds
- Portfolio Manager for Global Resources
- Oversees the Natural Resources Equity Investment Team including asset allocation, company research and security selection
- Joined VanEck in 2005
- Prior to VanEck, energy analyst at Petrie Parkman & Co. covering U.S. oil and gas exploration and production companies
- Previously, Analyst at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers (Australia) and Credit Suisse First Boston (London); covered North American, European and global energy companies; Exploration Geologist at Tenneco Oil Company
- Served as board member of several private Latin American oil and gas exploration and production companies
- MBA (Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society), Finance, Columbia Business School
- MA (Phi Kappa Phi), Petroleum Geology, University of Texas, Austin
- BS, Engineering, Cornell University
Jon Rizzo
- Trader
- Joined VanEck in 2021
- Prior to VanEck, Sole Trader at Evermore Global Advisors
- Previously, held various roles at Knight Capital Group (now Virtu Financial)
- BS, Finance, Towson University
Yi Rong
- Senior Analyst for the VanEck Emerging Markets Equity Strategies with a specialized focus on Chinese equity markets
- Joined VanEck in 2021
- Prior to VanEck, Analyst at Allard Partners, Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, Turiya Capital, Fidelity International, Bain Capital
- BA, Economics & Environmental Science and MA, International Relations from The University of Chicago
David Semple
- Strategic Advisor for the active Emerging Markets Equity Strategy, formerly Portfolio Manager
- Joined VanEck in 1998
- Prior to VanEck, served on the team sub-advising the VanEck Emerging Markets Strategy at Peregrine Asset Management (Hong Kong)
- Previously, held regional strategy and sales positions at Peregrine Brokerage (Hong Kong)
- Formerly a portfolio manager specializing in Asian equity markets at Murray Johnstone (Glasgow)
- Member of the Association of Investment Management and Research (AIMR); member of the CFA Institute
- Bachelor of Law with Honors, University of Edinburgh
Alan Shih
- Analyst for the active Natural Resources Equity Strategy specializing in energy research
- Joined VanEck in 2013
- Prior to VanEck, experience as a venture financial analyst working with startups in the mobile, tech and entertainment research at Pulse Advisory
- Previously, Equity Trader at Opus Trading Fund; FX Dealer at FXCM and Fixed Income Broker at Hennion & Walsh
- MBA, Finance and Accounting, Fordham University
- BA, Statistics, Rutgers University
Angus Shillington
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the active Emerging Markets Equity Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2009
- Prior to VanEck, headed International Equity at ABN AMRO
- Previously, several senior roles in research, sales, trading and portfolio management with a focus on the Asian and European markets at BNP Paribas (NY/LA), UBS Securities (Hong Kong) and Hill Samuel/BLW (Edinburgh)
Fixed Income
David Austerweil
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the active Emerging Markets Fixed Income Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior to VanEck, Vice President at ING Financial Services on the Emerging Markets Credit Trading & Structuring desk
- Previously, member of the portfolio management team at The Rohatyn Group and Director in the Quantitative Financial Research group at Fitch Ratings
- MS, Financial Engineering, Columbia University
- BA, Computer Science, Columbia University
Daniel Cho
- Associate Portfolio Manager for Fixed Income ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior to his current role, held a portfolio administration position for the firm’s alternative investment funds
- MS, Finance, University of Rochester
- BS, Information Sciences and Technology, Pennsylvania State University
James Colby III
- Senior Municipal Strategist
- Joined VanEck in 2007
- Prior to joining VanEck, held several senior municipal fixed income positions at Lord Abbett, John Hancock Funds, Old Harbor Capital and Evergreen Asset Management
- Member of National Municipal Buyers Conference (Chairman, 1996), Municipal Forum of New York, Boston Fixed Income Management Society and The Economics Club of New York
- MBA, Finance, Hofstra University
- BA, Economics and International Relations, Brown University
Eric Fine
- Portfolio Manager for the active Emerging Markets Fixed Income Strategy
- Oversees the Emerging Markets Fixed Income Team including asset allocation, fixed income research and security selection
- Joined VanEck in 2009
- Prior to VanEck, held senior leadership positions at Morgan Stanley including founding and managing Morgan Stanley's Emerging Markets Proprietary Trading group
- Advised numerous governments on economic policies and debt profiles; rescheduled sovereign debts in Turkey and the Dominican Republic
- MPA, International Trade/Finance, Harvard University
- BA, Public Policy, Duke University
Natalia Gurushina
- Chief Economist for the active Emerging Markets Fixed Income Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2013
- Prior to VanEck, worked at Roubini Global Economics in emerging markets currency/fixed income and G10 currency strategies
- Previously, Analyst at Pantera Capital Management and as EMEA Economist at Deutsche Bank and Russia/CIS Economist at Bankers Trust
- PhD, Economic History, University of Oxford
- BA, Economics, Moscow State University
Jared Model
- Senior Trader, Portfolio Analyst for Fixed Income ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2017
- Previously, Trader at Beck, Mack & Oliver LLC and monitored markets and executed equity and fixed income trades and Fixed Income Operations at Gleacher & Company Securities, Inc.
- MBA, Finance, Montclair State University
- BS, concentration in Accounting and Finance, minor in Computer Science, University of Vermont
Fran Rodilosso
- Head of Fixed Income ETF Portfolio Management
- Responsible for portfolio strategies as well as credit and market analysis; specializes in international bond markets
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior to VanEck, Managing Director of Global Emerging Markets with The Seaport Group; launched the firm’s emerging markets fixed income sales and trading business
- Previously, held portfolio management positions at Greylock Capital and Soundbrook Capital; focused on corporate high-yield and distressed bonds with an emphasis on emerging markets
- CFA charterholder; member of CFA Society New York
- MBA (with distinction), Finance, University of Pennsylvania
- AB, History, Princeton University
Robert Schmieder
- Senior Corporate Analyst for the active Emerging Markets Fixed Income Strategy
- Joined VanEck in 2015
- Prior to VanEck, Executive Director/Head of Latin America Credit Research at BBVA Securities
- Previously, Managing Director/Head of Latin America Corporate Credit Research at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
- MBA, International Finance, New York University
- MA, Spanish Literature, New York University
- BA, Spanish Language and Literature, New York University
Stephanie Wang
- Portfolio Manager for non-taxable Fixed Income ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2016
- Prior to her current position, served as Deputy Portfolio Manager and quantitative analyst
- CFA charter holder; member of CFA Society New York
- MS, Financial Engineering, Baruch College; BBA, Finance, Baruch College
Tamara Lowin
- Senior Credit Analyst for non-taxable Fixed Income ETFs
- Joined VanEck in 2021
- Prior to joining VanEck, held several senior municipal analyst positions including director of research at Belle Haven Investments, senior municipal analyst at Brown Brothers, and municipal bond analyst at UBS
- Member of National Federation of Municipal Analysts and the Municipal Analysts Group of New York
- MBA, Finance and Public Policy, The Wharton School of Business; BA, Communications, University of Pennsylvania
Multi-Asset Solutions
Barak Laks
- Quantitative Analyst for VanEck active and passive investment strategies
- Joined VanEck in 2017
- Prior to joining VanEck, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Marketing Officer with several hedge funds
- MS, Mathematics, New York University
- MS, Financial Mathematics, New York University
- BA, Mathematics and Economics, Yale University
John Lau, CFA
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for multiple allocation strategies spanning real assets, multi-asset income, thematics, and municipals
- Joined VanEck in 2007
- Prior to his current role, served as Fund Analyst at VanEck
- CFA charterholder; member of the CFA Society New York
- BS, Business Administration (concentration in Financial Analysis), State University of New York at Buffalo
Joseph Schafer
- Quantitative Analyst for VanEck active and passive investment strategies
- Deputy Portfolio Manager for the Long/Flat Trend ETF
- Joined VanEck in 2011
- Prior to his current position, served as quantitative analyst and project manager at VanEck
- MA, Statistics, Columbia University
- MBA, Loyola University
- BBA, Finance, Loyola University
David Schassler
- Head of the Multi-Asset Solutions (MAS) Team
- Portfolio Manager for multiple allocation strategies spanning real assets, multi-asset income, thematics, municipals, and trend-following U.S. equities
- Joined VanEck in 2012
- Prior to VanEck, Director and Portfolio Manager within the UBS Portfolio Strategy Group
- MBA, Finance, New York University
- BS, Business Economics, State University of New York College at Cortland