Dr. Vaca combines deep market and technology experience with his background in experimental physics to manage systematic global futures and equities programs
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sterling Partners Quantitative Investments (“SPQI”), an asset management platform specializing in a variety of quantitative alternative investment strategies, today announced industry veteran Dr. Francisco J. Vaca (“Dr. Vaca”) has joined the firm to lead its derivatives trading strategy. SPQI is an affiliate of Sterling Fund Management (“Sterling Partners”), a diversified investment management firm based in Chicago.
Dr. Vaca, who has a Ph.D. in Experimental Particles Physics, brings more than 25 years of quantitative, science-based investing experience. An extensive experience in large data analysis and computer programming, Dr. Vaca has developed proprietary algorithmic trading and electronic automated trading systems to be used at SPQI.
“We are thrilled to have Francisco lead the derivatives platform,” said Desmond Werthman, President of SPQI. “He’s been in the derivatives industry for many years and his academic background gives him a unique perspective. Francisco will aim to use his technology and leverage Sterling’s resources and infrastructure to continually innovate ways to attack the derivatives markets.”
Dr. Vaca has been involved in the management of client investment portfolios and overseen trading strategy creation, risk management, research and development and trading technology at alternative asset management firms as well as compliance, and operations. He has also created and designed complete trading software suites and trading strategies for the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific futures markets.
Prior to SPQI , Dr. Vaca served as Co-Chief Investment Officer at a long-standing quantitative asset management firm and ran his own quantitative asset management firm for 13 years. He began his career at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), where he first recognized that the research tools that he was using while experimenting in particle physics could also be used in finance.
“I have worked with industry leaders throughout my career and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do so once again at SPQI,” said Dr. Vaca. “Their resources, infrastructure entrepreneurial culture, and talented team complement my strategy and will deliver individualized attention and best-in-class service to our clients.”
SPQI launched earlier this year as Sterling Partners shifted from its blind-pool, non-industry specific middle-market fund business into a multi-asset investment strategy platform investing across a variety of strategies.
About Sterling Partners Quantitative Investments
Sterling Partners Quantitative Investments (“SPQI”) is an asset management platform specializing in a variety of quantitative alternative investment strategies. SPQI provides an advanced technology platform, capital, and an institutional infrastructure to allow its management teams to focus on their core competency of investing in a variety of financial markets. SPQI is an affiliate of Sterling Partners, a diversified investment management firm based in Chicago.