Kevin E. Pilarski

Kevin Pilarski is a financial services advisor with Bates Group who brings over 25 years of hands-on experience in asset management and capital markets, specializing in strategy, financial innovation and regulatory reform. Mr. Pilarski has assisted clients with planning and managing complex business transformation projects and improving their business processes. Additionally he has partnered with global financial organizations to develop strategies for regulatory change, increasing profitability and market share, overcoming payment & settlement system challenges and managing complex financial and operational risks.

Mr. Pilarski is extremely knowledgeable regarding: active and alternative investment management, artificial intelligence, block chain, capital structure, commodities, credit, credit defaults, currencies, derivatives, emissions/energy, equities, ETFs, fixed income, futures, hedge funds, indexation, liquidity, options, passive investment management, private equity due diligence, risk management including “Greek” factors, statistical analysis, structured products and corporate valuation.

Prior to joining Bates, Mr. Pilarski served as Senior Managing Director – Banking and Capital Markets Advisory for PriceWaterhouse Coopers. While at PwC, he has built a practice that achieved an aggregate of $28.4M in managed revenue and $41.5M in sales in less than 6 years. Mr. Pilarski has led initiatives in Financial Market Utilities, Wholesale Funding, Dodd Frank Regulatory Reform and Private Equity Due Diligence & Valuation.

In 2008, Mr. Pilarski founded Forest Glen Asset Management in Chicago, IL, here he created concept, infrastructure, investment methodology and marketing for a Climate Finance Fund based upon global climate accords and strategy encompassed arbitrage of carbon credits, permits, and futures within a managed portfolio. Additionally, he developed correlations and ratio analysis of emissions futures versus energy futures markets in anticipation of the U.S. cap and trade market.

From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Pilarski was a Partner with Kilkenny Capital Management. During this time he re-initiated marketing strategy and execution for a $250M AUM biomedical long/short equity hedge fund;  increased alpha annually in both 2006 and 2007 using derivatives overlays by replacing or complementing existing equity positions; developed a tactical beta hedge using VIX futures and select ETF options; and returned investor funds with minimal loss and liquidated fund holdings in September 2008 when it became apparent that market conditions for biomedical/biotech stocks would be adverse for some time.

Prior to joining Kilkenny Capital Management, Mr. Pilarski was Director, Alternative Strategies/ Global Derivatives and Chief Compliance Officer at Dow Jones & Company (DJ) where he managed the public relations, marketing, and business development efforts for a global equity index provider; developed the strategy that would lever the firm's global brand while increasing revenue through new products and clients; created credit default swap market transparency while managing the production of foremost credit default swap index for North America; and developed North American presence for US/European joint venture that earned over $25M in annual futures and options revenue.
 

Additional highlights from Mr. Pilarski’s service in the finance industry include:

-          Led team which conducted due diligence on two global acquisition targets in the transfer agency and shareholder services space with the intention to merge the two entities;

-          Conducted pre-acquisition operational and risk management due diligence on a securities clearing firm;

-          Created the business case for a new innovative Settlement Utility for US Treasury and US Agency Securities;

-          Provided management with cost benefit analysis for new or enhanced technology and infrastructure functionality, staffing ramp-up and possible usage of current processes using NPV/IRR/breakeven calculations for various go forward options;

-          Went beyond the currently accepted market practice to develop a “best in class” risk measurement and management framework, procedure, and ongoing operational system;

-          Provided support to ensure operational readiness and compliance with Enhanced Prudential Standards (EPS) and Intermediate Holding Company (IHC) requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act;

-          Developed the Recovery and Resolution Plan (RRP) required by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

-          Analyzed current documentation supporting compliance testing to meet industry best practices / regulatory expectations;

-          Provided subject matter expertise on derivative front and back office processes (FCM), trade life cycle, accounting and cash flows, customer segregation and co-mingled omnibus account structures, position liquidation, equity and equity derivative account structure (BD), option valuation/trading and back office system operations. 

Mr. Pilarski received a MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business and a B.S. in Finance from Miami University, Farmer School of Business. He has authored numerous papers and regulatory briefs, including the Future of Wholesale Funding.