DeSena, Thompson Highlight 2017 MCAs

Neil Desena, Larry Thompson Highlight 2017 Markets Choice Award Winners
BlackRock, Citadel Securities, T. Rowe Price lead corporate honorees

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Markets Media

Apr 20, 2017, 07:30 ET

NEW YORK, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — More than 250 capital markets professionals convened Wednesday night at Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan for the fifth annual Markets Choice Awards, hosted by Markets Media Group.

The MCAs span the most important sectors of institutional markets and trading — buy-side trading desks, sell-side brokers, exchanges and trading platforms, traditional technology providers and emerging fintech concerns.
“The Markets Choice Awards are known for one thing: recognizing excellence in markets,” said Mohan Virdee, CEO of Markets Media Group. “Whether for individual achievements or company milestones, it’s always great to hear the stories of their success.”

Larry Thompson, Vice Chairman of DTCC and a 36-year veteran whose influence helped stabilize markets through 9/11 and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, won Lifetime Achievement. Adena Friedman of Nasdaq won Woman of the Year, while Jen Nayar of Vela was named CEO of the Year. Nanette Buziak of Voya Investment Management and Sam Priyadarshi of Vanguard Group were Traders of the Year for Equities and Fixed Income, respectively.

The inaugural Market Advocate Award was presented posthumously to Neil DeSena of SenaHill Partners. Neil’s widow Carolyn DeSena accepted the award and provided poignant remembrances of Neil. The award will subsequently be called the Neil DeSena Market Advocate Award.

Among companies, electronic market-maker Citadel Securities won for Best Company. There were a slew of buy-side awards presented, including to BlackRock for Best Buy-Side Fixed Income Trading Desk; T. Rowe Price for Best Buy-Side FX Trading Desk; and J.P. Morgan Asset Management for Best Buy-Side Equities Trading Desk.

Fidessa, FlexTrade, Lime Brokerage, Portware and Tradeweb were among technology winners.

The methodology in selecting MCA nominees and then winners is simple yet thorough, and keeps the focus on the most important opinions: those of market participants. The multi-month process started with a call for nominations from the readership of MMG’s two editorial platforms, MarketsMedia.com and TradersMagazine.com. Editorial staff then conducted research and telephone interviews and consulted with the MCA Advisory Board to winnow the field to shortlists and then eventually winners.

“The process for the Markets Choice Awards is difficult and rigorous, yet highly rewarding and one we look forward to each year,” Virdee said.

For a full list of MCA winners, please visit MarketsMedia.com or TradersMagazine.com.