About Fitch Solutions (2024)

ESG Investing Awards 2024

Sustainable Fitch, a Fitch Solutions company, wins "Best Specialist ESG Ratings Provider" award and recognised as runner-up in “Most Innovative ESG Product” category at the ESG Investing Awards. The judges’ panel recognised Sustainable Fitch’s ESG Ratings as “a unique impact-focused product designed for fixed-income investment decision-making, management, and reporting”.

American Financial Technology Awards 2023

GeoQuant wins the Most Innovative Third-Party Technology Vendor - AI & Machine Learning Award at the annual American Financial Technology Awards (AFTA). Part of BMI, GeoQuant was recognized for excellence in the deployment and management of technology that fuses political and computer science to quantify political risks.

Data Management Insight Awards USA 2023

BMI was named “Best Index Data Provider” for its Operational Risk Index for the second consecutive year. The awards recognize both established solution vendors and innovative newcomers providing leading data management solutions.

CreditSights Awarded Best Credit Rating Investment Research/Data

The European Markets Choice award recognizes the CreditSights new platform, which brings together credit market research, news, and analysis from CreditSights, Covenant Review, and LevFin Insights in a single user experience..

See Also

Fitch Ratings Credit ResearchFitch Credit Ratings DataRatings Research Data

BMI Affirmed As One of The World’s Most Accurate Economic Forecasters

BMI has once again been named one of the world’s most accurate economic forecasters – winning more Top 3 honours than any other research provider in the annual FocusEconomics Analyst Forecast Awards.

Sustainable Fitch Wins ESG Research of the Year for Fixed Income

Sustainable Fitch has won the ESG research of the year for fixed income award from Environmental Finance for the second consecutive year.

Inside Market Data & Inside Reference Data Awards 2022

Best Counterparty Data Project or Initiative 2022 for Fitch Solutions Basel III – SCRA Data

Michael Benham

Chief Financial Officer, Fitch Solutions

Michael is Chief Financial Officer for Fitch Solutions. Prior to joining Fitch, he was Vice President, Finance and Business Operations for Hearst Magazines where he oversaw digital FP&A and infrastructure operations. He brings over 25 years of experience in business management, Financial Planning and Analysis.

Michael graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics.

Dan Champeau

Head of Fitch Ratings Research & Data

Dan Champeau is the Head of Fitch Ratings Research & Data. He joined Fitch Solutions in 2019, and has over 30 years’ experience in credit markets.

Prior to Fitch Solutions, Dan was Managing Director and Global Group Head of Public Finance & Infrastructure at Fitch Ratings, overseeing a team of 250 analysts in 15 offices globally that is responsible for analyzing approximately 5,000 debt issuers. Prior roles in Fitch Ratings included senior management positions in the Business Relationship Management/Investor Development groups. Before joining Fitch, Dan worked in Corporate and Infrastructure Finance at Financial Security Assurance and Ambac.

Dan earned an M.B.A. in Finance from San Francisco State University, a B.A. from the University of Maryland College Park, and graduated from the Hearst Management Institute as part of Fitch’s inaugural class.

Luciano Dolgetta

Head of BMI

Prior to assuming his current role in March 2023, Luciano was Chief Financial Officer of Fitch Solutions. He joined Fitch in 2017 and in 2018 he also assumed responsibility for Corporate Development and Strategy & Business Intelligence. Over this period of time, he was heavily involved in Fitch Group's corporate development activities playing a significant role in several high-profile acquisitions.

Before Fitch, Luciano was a senior banker in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications investment banking group at Merrill Lynch, where he executed a broad range of equity and debt financings alongside strategic advisory assignments. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2008, he worked at Fiat Group in a variety of corporate finance roles. He started his career at Monte dei Paschi di Siena. He has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance.

Luciano has an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BA in Business Administration from Universita’ degli Studi Salerno.

Liza Horowitz

Head of Marketing, Fitch Solutions

Liza Horowitz is the Global Head of Marketing at Fitch Solutions. She brings over 15 years of marketing expertise in the FinTech sector to her role. She joins Fitch Solutions from Beacon Platform where Liza spearheaded marketing and sales development, focusing on leveraging innovative technologies to enhance client and new logo engagements across the financial industry. Her strategic approach and leadership have cultivated a diverse and dynamic team, known for its creativity and effectiveness.

Liza earned her degree in Religion from Bryn Mawr College. Recognized for her contributions to the industry, she was awarded the Excellence in Marketing and Communications at the Markets Choice Awards in 2020.

Andreas Karaiskos

CEO of Fitch Learning

Andreas Karaiskos is the CEO of Fitch Learning. Appointed in July 2014, he is responsible for the company’s strategic direction. With more than 20 years’ experience in leadership positions, Andreas has developed and managed numerous businesses focused on delivering high quality financial education and services.

Andreas joined Fitch in 2011. Prior to his current role, Andreas served as Managing Director, Fitch Learning, for Asia-Pacific, and was responsible for founding the firms Middle East and Africa operations from the UAE. Prior to Fitch, Andreas worked at HSBC and Barclays, where he held leadership positions focused on strategic development.

Andreas is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA) and founding member of the UAE's ACCA Advisory Committee.

Rachel Lojko

Chief Commercial Officer, Fitch Solutions

Rachel is Chief Commercial Officer for Fitch Solutions. She has 20 years of commercial experience in financial information services. She joins Fitch from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) where she was Regional Head of Sales, Americas. Prior to that, she led the LSEG Market Development Team, overseeing the design and delivery of the go-to-market strategy for commercial functions. She has extensive knowledge of a variety of customer segments having worked with the Buy Side, Sell Side, Corporate, Academic and Government.

Rachel earned a BS in Economics and Management from A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and an MS in Global Affairs from NYU Center for Global Affairs. She was named "The Best Woman in Financial Sales" in 2016 by the Women in Sales Awards and is a member of The Women's Bond Club in NY, where she was nominated as a Rising Star in 2015.

Erin Lyons

Co-Head of CreditSights

Erin Lyons leverages her 23 years of experience in the credit markets, where she has been an analyst, strategist, and portfolio manager on the buy side and sell side, to drive CreditSights’ product, client, and commercial strategy. She joined the firm a decade ago as an analyst covering the technology sector, served as the Investment Grade Credit Strategist, and most recently held the title of Global Head of Business Strategy for CreditSights.

Erin earned a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She serves as President of the Board of the Fixed Income Analyst Society (FIASI), as a mentor for Girls Who Invest and American Corporate Partners, and guest lectures on fixed income markets at Boston College, Columbia University, and Cornell University.

Ted Niedermayer

President of Fitch Solutions

Theodore E. Niedermayer (“Ted”) is the President of Fitch Solutions. Prior to assuming his current position in March 2022, Ted was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Fitch Group, Inc. He joined Fitch Group as Chief Financial Officer in June 2014 and in February 2019 was additionally named Chief Operating Officer.

Ted was previously Chief Operating Officer and Senior Managing Director of Finance at H/2 Capital Partners, an alternative investment manager. Prior to joining H/2 in 2011, he was a Managing Director in investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2004, he was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. Ted has also held investment banking positions with Lehman Brothers and Salomon Brothers.

Ted earned an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a BA in Economics from Hobart College. He serves as a member of the Board of Advisors at the Tuck School of Business and is a Trustee of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Ted sits on the Fitch Group Corporate Social Responsibility Steering Committee.

Perry Rahbar

Founder, CEO of dv01

Perry Rahbar is the Founder and CEO of dv01. He founded the company in 2014 and in 2022 Fitch acquired a majority stake.

Prior to founding dv01, Perry had over 10 years’ experience in structured finance trading and analytics. Perry was an Executive Director at J.P.Morgan Chase Co-Head of CMBS and non-Agency MBS Trading. Before that he was a Managing Director at Bear Stearns in CDO non-Agency MBS Trading.

Perry has been recognized by HousingWire as a Rising Star and Tech Trendsetter among leaders and innovators in the mortgage industry, and was a finalist for the 2020 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year – NYC award.

A graduate of Emory University, Perry is a recipient of the Emory Entrepreneur Award for financial services.

Mike Simonton

Head of Sustainable Fitch

Mike Simonton is the Head of Sustainable Fitch. Prior to Sustainable Fitch, Mike led Fitch Group’s Social Value Collaborations (SVC) marketing function, connecting Fitch’s internal DEI and CSR commitments and the efforts of our customers. Mike started at Fitch Ratings in 1995, working as an Analyst in Public Finance, Structured Finance and Financial Institutions. He also served as Head of U.S. Leveraged Finance and Head of Fitch Ratings’ U.S. and Canada Corporates analytical teams.

Mike holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming (UW) and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Mike was UW College of Business Alumni of the Year and is a graduate of the United Way’s Responsible Business Leaders program. He sits on Fitch Group’s Global DEI Council and Global CSR Committees. He was previously senior sponsor for the Fitch Group Pride Network.

Shea Wallon

Head of Fitch Ventures

Shea Wallon is the Head of Fitch Ventures, which makes investments in innovative and emerging technology companies in the financial services industry while bringing new learnings to Fitch Group.

Shea has over 30 years of financial services experience. He joined Fitch in 2016. Before joining Fitch, Shea was Managing Director – Strategic Investments and Partnerships for R3, a blockchain company focused on its technology into the financial services industry.

Prior to that, he was a Managing Director with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in its Global Principal Investments group where he led a team that originated, structured, and monitored direct equity investments and strategic partnerships in emerging financial service and technology companies in the global banking and markets sector.

He also worked for GE Capital in their private equity, leverage finance, and special situations units and began his career as an investment banker at Bear Stearns covering financial institutions.

Shea graduated from Union College with a bachelor of science in mathematics. He received his master of business administration from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

Dan Watson

Head of HR, Fitch Solutions

Dan Watson is the Head of HR for Fitch Solutions. Prior to assuming this position in 2021 he was Head of Human Resources for Fitch Ratings.

Dan has 20+ years of Human Resources experience. He joined Fitch in 2016 from Kroll where he oversaw HR teams in North America, Latin America and Asia. He also held positions at E&Y and Linklaters.

Matt Zloto

Co-Head of CreditSights

Matt Zloto has dedicated the last two decades to the leveraged finance sector, gaining extensive buy-side experience in areas such as private credit, special situations, and distressed investing. He became a part of the CreditSights team five years ago, with the primary objective of expanding the company's Special Situations research offering. His most recent role at CreditSights was serving as the Global Head of Leveraged Finance, where he oversaw the firm's leveraged finance content and product development.