Bernie Thurston is an accomplished financial technology executive and Chief Executive Officer of ULTUMUS, a premier global provider of ETF and index data and technology solutions. Under his strategic leadership, ULTUMUS has established itself as critical infrastructure for asset managers, banks, and market makers throughout the ETF ecosystem.

Prior to founding ULTUMUS, Bernie held senior leadership positions at prominent global financial institutions, including UBS and Markit, where he spearheaded strategic initiatives in index and data services. He brings over two decades of expertise operating at the convergence of capital markets and financial technology, with specialized knowledge in ETF operations, index calculation, and data integration.

Recognized as a thought leader in the ETF and index data sector, Bernie regularly participates in industry panels and contributes to leading financial publications. He holds a degree in Engineering from the Exeter University

Dan Izzo is a seasoned investment professional and the founder of BLKBRD Asset Management (“Blackbird”), an SEC registered investment manager. Previously, Dan served as CEO of London-based GHCO, a leading global ETF market maker in the UK and Europe which was successfully sold to Mirae Asset Management.

Dan was a Portfolio Manager at Verition Group, a multi-strategy hedge fund, and led Global ETF Arbitrage at Bank of America Merrill Lynch from 2013 to 2017. Before entering finance, Dan served nine years in the United States Army as a Black Hawk pilot, completing multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point