Genesis Analytics launches new institutional risk management unit
22 January 2014
Genesis has kicked off the new year by strengthening its capability and expanding its services in financial risk management. This comes with the appointment of James Bernstein, a top risk professional, as Head of a new Risk Management Unit in the firm’s Financial Institutions Practice. The unit has been established in response to the growing challenges presented by new regulatory requirements and the need for financial institutions to improve their risk management capabilities.
“Increasingly active balance sheet management is the cornerstone of competitive strategy in today’s financial institutions,” says Bernstein. “Being able to respond to changing risks and regulations is fundamental to both sustainability and success.
“The new Risk Management Unit at Genesis Analytics will therefore be working with clients across the entire risk spectrum, leveraging off the firm’s full complement of products and analytical expertise.”
Commenting on this expanded services offering, Richard Ketley, Head of the Financial Institutions Practice at Genesis Analytics, said that Bernstein brings with him unique skills and experience.
“With the appointment of James Bernstein we have added an expert on risk management to our team, right at a time when banks need to improve their ability to manage capital and liquidity in rapidly evolving markets. Throughout Africa, regulators are calling on banks to comply with global best practice, and many do not have the internal skills or systems necessary in order to comply. This is the gap we intend to fill.”
Bernstein brings extensive experience in risk and portfolio management to Genesis Analytics, having spent nearly three decades working in this discipline in banks based in London, New York and Johannesburg. Most recently, he has been focusing on risk governance, portfolio management, regulatory requirements and related challenges, disciplines that will all bring significant added value to the firm’s portfolio of clients.
About James Bernstein
James Bernstein, the head of the Risk Management Unit at Genesis Analytics, was previously with Grey Matter Thinking, where he consulted in financial risk management, and provided both inhouse and public training courses on risk and regulatory requirements.
Prior to that, James worked in risk and capital management for Absa Capital, Nedbank and Standard Bank, and has also worked for Morgan Stanley, Bankers Trust and ING Barings. In addition to his professional commitments, he lectures in Portfolio Management to Masters students at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), as well as in Economics for Business to MBA students at the Wits Graduate School of Business.
James holds a BA in Economics from the University of California and an MSc in Economics from London University.