Optima Partners has appointed compliance industry veteran Portia Amato as a Director in the firm’s New York office.
Amato (pictured), brings nearly two decades of experience in providing compliance services for the investment management industry. In her new role, Amato will be responsible for maintaining client relationships and working with management to drive further growth for the firm, which has more than 500 clients including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital firms, broker dealers, and global banks.
Before joining Optima, she was a Compliance Officer at DRA Advisors, a New York-based investment advisory firm specialising in real estate investment and management services.
Amato also served as a Compliance Officer at Compliance Risk Concepts, a New York-based compliance consulting firm. At the firm, she was responsible for providing compliance-related services to primarily registered investment advisors and broker-dealers, as well as managing client relationships and supporting new business development.
Earlier, Amato served as a Vice President-Compliance at New York-based asset management firm Epoch Investment Partners, a wholly owned subsidiary of TD Bank with USD42 billion in assets under management, and also worked for several other financial services firm during her career.
Donald Babbitt, a Partner at Optima, says: “We are excited that Portia is joining Optima. As we continue to grow our business, our focus is always on hiring talented compliance professionals who are capable of providing our clients with the highest level of advisory services. Her extensive experience working successfully with a large client base is exactly what we are looking for as we expand our team.”
Partner Alan Halfenger adds: “Portia not only brings a strong knowledge of registered investment advisor and broker-dealer regulations, but also a deep understanding of the inner workings of real estate funds. She will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
Amato says: “I am very excited to join the Optima team. I am looking forward to working with Optima’s clients in helping them to develop and maintain a strong compliance program and adopt best practices needed to successfully navigate through the ever-changing regulatory landscape.”
