Validus appoints Goldman Sachs Executive Director to head new US office in New York

London & New York, June 1, 2021 – Validus Risk Management (Validus), the leading independent financial risk advisory and technology firm, today announces that it has opened an office in New York and appointed Bryan Cohen as Managing Director. New York will be the fifth location for Validus, in addition to its existing presence in London, Eton, Toronto and Oslo.

Mr. Cohen brings over 15 years’ experience across various areas of risk management and derivatives. Most recently, he was in charge of risk management strategy and execution for Goldman Sachs’ Merchant Banking Division where he designed and executed hedging strategies for the firm’s long-term principal investing activity across private equity, credit, real estate, and infrastructure funds. Mr. Cohen has also previously worked at Barclays and RBS.

Commenting on his appointment, Bryan Cohen said: “I’m delighted to join Validus at such an exciting time and in conjunction with the milestone of launching the New York office. I look forward to leveraging my experience and networks to help the company expand its presence in the US and continue its impressive growth trajectory.”

Mr. Cohen will lead the firm’s expansion in North America, building up the advisory and client relationship team in New York.

Haakon Blakstad, CCO of Validus, commented: “We are thrilled to have Bryan onboard. His background and experience will add significant value to our team, and we know our existing and future clients in the US will be excited to work with him. The credibility he brings marries perfectly with our vision of being the most respected provider of financial risk management services globally.”

Blakstad added: “The demand for independent advice and practical risk management solutions has never been greater. And as North American clients are increasingly exposed to market risks such as FX and interest rates, the opening of our New York office could not be more timely”.

Validus specialises in providing financial risk management, fund finance advisory and technology solutions to institutional investors, private capital fund managers, and corporates across the globe.