Chicago-based independent futures brokerage and clearing firm R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO) yesterday announced that its Senior Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer Jamal Oulhadj has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s holding company, RJO Holdings Corp. Mr. Oulhadj will have ultimate responsibility for the firm’s global risk, operations, credit and information technology (IT) functions.
Gerald Corcoran, RJO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Jamal has been a vital member of our management team, and he will be an outstanding COO for our holding company. He’s demonstrated a great command of all operational aspects of our business, and he’s earned the respect of everyone on his team, as well as our Board of Directors. We’re very pleased to recognize his contributions and entrust him with these expanded responsibilities.”
On his promotion, Mr. Oulhadj said: “I’m deeply honored to be associated with RJO and thankful for the opportunity to grow professionally. I couldn’t be more proud of the team we’ve assembled, and I look forward to continuing our constant quest for excellence in all aspects of our operations.”
Mr. Oulhadj has more than 15 years of experience in risk management. He joined RJO as Chief Risk Officer in 2006, taking on the Operations and Technology areas as well in 2011 as part of a streamlining effort to promote the seamless integration between risk management, operations and technology. He previously served for nearly eight years as Risk Officer for Refco. Previously, he was a Senior Research Analyst at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (now CME Group), where he helped develop financial products.
Born in Morocco, Mr. Oulhadj earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Master of Science degree in finance at DePaul University’s Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.