
The winners of this year’s AFTAs were announced at a dinner in midtown Manhattan on December 4.
Source: WatersTechnology
Continuing last year’s theme of change, this year’s winners were marked by impending regulatory reform due in the New Year, and a shift in the business practices of the buy and sell sides.
With reporting mandates from US regulators and the European Union hitting home, compliance projects once again dominated technology development. But the growth of importance in artificial intelligence (AI) also made its mark by way of cutting-edge IT projects on display in this year’s winners’ circle.
Therefore a strong current of innovation also runs through all of the winning platforms, projects, people and professional initiatives on display here. From new solutions, all the way to upgraded and enhanced technologies, and even in the attitudes of those individuals honored, this year’s American Financial Technology Awards present the picture of an industry standing on the precipice of immense change—and getting ready to take the plunge.
Waters Technology recently announced this year’s winners:
Vendor categories
Best AI technology initiative—FIS
Best back-office initiative—SmartStream Technologies
Best collaboration initiative—SS&C Advent
Best communications infrastructure provider—IPC Systems
Best front-office initiative—State Street Global Exchange
Best middle-office initiative—RIMES Technologies
Best new technology introduced over the last 12 months – front office—IHSMarkit
Best new technology introduced over the last 12 months – infrastructure—Metamako
Best new technology introduced over the last 12 months – middle and back office—AdvantageData
Best new technology introduced over the last 12 months – risk compliance and reporting—AQMetrics
Best partnership or alliance—Thomson Reuters & Symphony Communications
Best third party technology vendor IT team—Axioma
Best trading infrastructure provider—Cobalt
Best use of the Agile methodology—Confluence
Most innovative technology vendor – front office—Overbond
Most innovative technology vendor – infrastructure—UnaVista
Most innovative technology vendor – middle office—S3 Partners
Most innovative technology vendor – risk, compliance and reporting—Imagine Software
End-User Categories
Best analytics initiative—Credit Suisse
Best cloud initiative—Northern Trust
Best compliance initiative—Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Best cross-asset trading initiative—State Street Corporation
Best data management initiative—Deutsche Bank
Best infrastructure initiative—JPMorgan Asset Wealth Management
Best IT integration initiative —Cowen
Best IT team—Charles Schwab Investment Management
Best mobile strategy initiative—Janus Henderson
Best reporting initiative—State Street Corporation
Best risk management initiative—TD Securities
Most cutting-edge IT initiative —JPMorgan Asset Wealth Management
Individual Categories
Best third-party technology vendor CIO or CEO—Neil Barua (IPC Systems)
Best technology executive, buy side—Mike Urciuoli (JPMorgan Asset Wealth Management)
Best technology executive, sell side—Jodi Richard (US Bank)