DIANA MERENDA

(516) 263-7086 // MANHASSET, NEW YORK 11030

DIANA.MERENDA@GMAIL.COM

www.linkedin.com/in/dianamerenda

SUMMARY

client service, onboarding & transitions

client reporting & questionnaires
data management for RFPs & databases

project management, vendor relationships

compliance and internal audit reviews
forging trans-departmental relationships

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CONSULTANT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

MAY 2012 PRESENT

Client Service, Marketing & Operations Services

Enhance business processes for optimal performance. Assist with compliance and internal audit
assignments. Improve RFP database of responses and overall process. Co-created SQL BPM database.

GUGGENHEIM PARTNERS ASSET MANAGEMENT, NY, NY

2011 APRIL 2012

Director, Client & Marketing Services

Created new support team responsible for providing timely and accurate DDQs, RFPs, questionnaires,
presentations and other collateral to service internal and external clients. Achievements included:
Developed policies and procedures to ensure appropriate, compliance-approved data usage
Implemented content management tool and data management solution for consultant database
population, including technological initiative to track investment professionals
Integrated data resulting from merger of several Registered Investment Advisors

CUTWATER ASSET MANAGEMENT, A DIVISION OF MBIA, Armonk, NY

2009 2011

Vice President, Client Reporting & Special Projects

Change agent who strategically implemented best practices for the restructure effort from MBIA Asset
Management to Cutwater Asset Management and improved the firms client service efforts.
Forged client lifecycle processes that streamlined the on-boarding, transition and client
maintenance efforts and also designed the technological solution for implementation
Reduced manual client reporting delivery time by 33% from 15 to 10 business days and completed
beta test to automate client reporting
Created Cutwater University, an online and in-person training program which covered sales,
investment management, GIPS performance measurement and attribution for the firm

BEAR STEARNS (JP MORGAN CHASE) ASSET MANAGEMENT, NY, NY

2007 2009

Director, Marketing Communications & Data Analytics

Retained as part of the elite Transition Team, post collapse. Managed, trained and developed a staff of
marketing professionals responsible for providing timely and accurate data delivery for internal and
external clients along with collaterals to support key marketing message within a strong compliance
framework. Achievements included:
Revamped marketing and client collateral for Compliance, content and presentation
Guided the compilation of $45 billion assets, 393 personnel and other data to meet search criteria
Developed policies and procedures to ensure appropriate, Compliance-approved data usage

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF PLANDOME HEIGHTS, NY

2005 APRIL 2012

Mayor (4 years), Trustee (2 years), Planning Board (1 year)

As CEO of this municipality, governed my home village through the height of the financial crisis by
partnering with 100% of the vendors to keep taxes low. Created Technology Advisory Board that saved

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thousands of dollars while ensuring data stability and integrity. Wrote successful public works proposals
resulting in significant grants. Strengthened Ethics Policy. After service completion, received
Proclamations acknowledging outstanding service from all four levels of government.

DEUTSCHE ASSET MANAGEMENT, NY, NY

2001 - 2007

Vice President, Client Relationship Management Support (04-07)

Charged with firm-wide strategic implementation of client on-boarding & transition management. Mitigated
firm risk by applying controls, resulting in 31% decline in breached guidelines. Member, Risk Committee.
Developed crucial relationships with Compliance and other internal counterparties to ensure
successful completion of client lifecycle events; reviewed Investment Management Agreements
Ensured client on-boarding proceeded only after successful completion of KYC and ISDAs
Co-piloted roll-out to launch cloned processes in Singapore, London, Sydney and Frankfurt
Analyzed the client event strategically to identify and diffuse any potential impediments that
would threaten smooth business transitions, including prescreening at the RFP stage
Vice President, Marketing Communications and Data Team (01-03)
Directed the firm's marketing data management effort. Key work streams included performance,
attribution, risk statistics, characteristics, turnover, and AUM. Achievements included:
Developed intranet website content for all product and staff bio data, enabling global access
Closed Internal Audit and Compliance gaps addressing best practices for Global Investment
Performance Standards (GIPS) performance reporting and statistics on investment professionals
Delivered quality data on a consistent basis for RFPs, consultant questionnaires and collateral
Partnered with Operations to improve content, depth and timeliness of portfolio and composite data

MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT, New York, NY

2000 - 2001

Junior Product Specialist

Supported the client service and sales effort in the Emerging Markets Equity group of 13 people.

LAZARD ASSET MANAGEMENT, New York, NY

1994 - 2000

Manager, Business Development Services & Australia Client Service

Managed, trained and developed marketing associates responsible for all RFPs, RFIs, pitch books,
consultant questionnaires and all marketing data across all business channels globally. Sole support
contributor for client service effort for Australian-based clients; helped raise $4B in assets in 3 years.
Forged partnership with Compliance to systemize greater efficiency in collateral reviews
Created textual content and aggregated numeric data used in all marketing collateral
Introduced data controls and incorporated innovations to improve RFP preparation

TREVOR STEWART BURTON & JACOBSEN, INC., New York, NY

1989 - 1994

Portfolio Manager Assistant

Supported all client service efforts for this small, privately held firm focusing primarily on private clients

EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL COURSES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Claritas Investment Certificate, CFA Institute ID #6916469
Baruch College, MBA, Business Policy
Sigma Iota Epsilon Management Honor Society; Baruch Executives on Campus Mentor
Hunter College, BA, Communications Major; Education Minor

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Hofstra University: Project Management Certificate (10); Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (13)
Six Sigma Green Belt (Deutsche); Dale Carnegie Leadership Training (Lazard)
Co-creator of the Client Lifecycle ExchangeTM
Memberships: Financial Womens Association; National Society of Compliance Professionals
Chairperson, Financial Research Associates Client Reporting & Communications Conference, 2012