Team
Sanjay Misra, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Sanjay leads our overall business and focuses on quantitative research and investment management. He was a senior fund manager at BlackRock, specializing in low-cost indexing and alpha-seeking quantitative strategies and technology-driven investment solutions during his 19 years there. Most recently, he led the design and implementation of algorithm-powered fund management for BlackRock’s $5 trillion index equity book. His research focuses on climate finance, asset pricing, dynamic asset allocation, exchange rates, and market efficiency. His experience includes building large-scale enterprise systems for multiple brokers/dealers and global information technology firms. Sanjay earned a B. Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, and a Ph.D. in Finance from EDHEC Business School. He is also a CFA charter holder and a GARP-certified Financial Risk Manager.
Atul Rawat
Chief Technology Officer
Atul, an experienced technology expert, oversees all technology at Acumain. He also co-heads Acumain AI Lab and sets the firm’s disruptive innovation vision. Most recently, Atul was a technical director and software architect at Cisco, leading the design and implementation of network assurance and observability in the cloud networking and analytics group. Previously, he was the lead architect of the data plane team for Cisco’s cloud-native broadband router product for service providers. Atul held various roles at Cisco during his 22 years there, covering electronic design tools, networking ASIC design, hardware design, embedded software, real-time software, and cloud-native software development for on-prem and SaaS products. His interests include deep learning, NLP, distributed systems, cloud-native and real-time software. Atul holds a B. Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Clinton Watkins, PhD
Quantitative Research
Clinton is a senior research fellow at the Acumain Center of Financial Research and focuses on applying quantitative techniques to identify drivers of risk and return. He also serves as Professor and Director of the Global Business Program at Akita International University in Japan. His research focuses on asset pricing, market microstructure, return forecasting, and financial econometrics. His research has been published in numerous journals, including the International Review of Financial Analysis, the Journal of Commodity Markets, and the Journal of Risk and Financial Management. Previously, Clinton was a strategist and researcher for BlackRock’s multi-asset global macro hedge fund, active currency funds, and an emerging markets macro hedge fund. Earlier, he advised the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on monetary and financial stability processes. He worked as an emissions trading and renewable energy economist and managed a global trading firm. Clinton has a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics, and Ph.D. in empirical finance from the University of Western Australia.
Chris Yost-Bremm, PhD
Quantitative Research
Chris is a senior research fellow at the Acumain Center of Financial Research, focusing on constructing alpha models. He is also an Associate Professor of Finance at San Francisco State University. His research focuses on risk premiums, asset pricing, real assets, return predictability, and forecasting. His research has been published in numerous journals, including the Journal of Computer Information Systems, the Journal of Behavioral Finance, the Review of Behavioral Finance, and the North American Journal of Economics and Finance. Previously, He was a quantitative researcher for BlackRock's multi-asset emerging market active funds. He has held research positions at the University of Nevada, EDF Trading (formerly Lehman Brothers Energy), and Texas A&M University. Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics and an MBA from California State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Ludovic Breger, PhD
Acumain AI Lab - Data and Analytics
Ludovic focuses on data strategy and scaling research platforms. He is an expert in designing and implementing high-impact data and analytics platforms. He specializes in producing data for signal, risk, and financial products. Most recently, he built BlackRock's self-indexing business from the ground up, focusing on fixed income and multi-asset capabilities as a Managing Director. Previously, he built and led data and analytics teams to create processes powering more than $1 trillion of model-driven active systematic products during his 16 years at BlackRock. He spent seven years at MSCI as the Global Head of Fixed Income Research. Ludovic holds a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics and a Master of Geophysics from the Rue d'Ulm Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. He earned a Ph.D. in Geophysics from UC Berkeley. His research is published in numerous journals, including Science, Nature, Risk, and the Journal of Portfolio Management.
Sanjay Bhatikar, PhD
Acumain AI Lab - Cognitive Search and Modeling
Sanjay is an AI expert specializing in pattern recognition and focuses on cognitive search techniques to solve climate-related classification challenges to accelerate discovery from large unstructured datasets. He has driven digital transformations at Bayer Crop Science and Monsanto by optimizing the R&D pipeline for crop development using deep learning, computer vision, and operations research. He has extensive experience leading and scaling R&D organizations to deliver innovative solutions. His recent focus has been streamlining the supply chains from farm to fork, establishing him as a pivotal figure in harnessing AI for sustainable agricultural practices and innovation. Previously, he held various senior positions at Biobase and was a lead scientist at General Electric. He has a B.E. from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune. He earned a Master's and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, specializing in Artificial Intelligence.
Strategic Partners
