Willie Zenes, CFA, is a Senior Consultant at F2 Strategy. Joining from Meradia, he has 13 years of experience across investment operations, middle office services, performance, pricing, and operational transformation. Willie has broad front-to-back investment operations expertise including fund dealing, hedge operations, pricing, data management, and middle office functions. Before joining Meradia, he led teams, supported critical operational functions, and drove process improvement initiatives at BNP Paribas and BNY Mellon. This diverse experience allows him to quickly understand client challenges, analyze underlying workflows, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and control.

Willie works across a variety of transformation initiatives, including operating model assessments, performance and analytics engagements, implementation programs, and service provider transformations.  

Willie enjoys hiking, fly fishing, camping, and spending time outdoors. He has summited every mountain in New Hampshire over 4,000 feet in elevation and is always happy to follow a day on the trail with a visit to a local brewery. He lives in the Greater Seattle Area.

What would you tell someone just starting out in the industry right now?

Embrace change instead of trying to avoid it. The best opportunities in this industry usually come from projects, technologies, or challenges that are unfamiliar. Every time I've said yes to something outside my comfort zone, whether it was learning a new technology, taking on a different type of engagement, or solving a problem I'd never seen before, it accelerated my growth. Stay curious, keep an open mind, and don't get too comfortable.

What are three words that describe how you do your job?

Observant, Collaborative, Reliable

What are you most passionate about in your role?

I enjoy solving complex problems and helping clients make sense of them. Every engagement is different, which means I'm constantly learning something new, whether it's an investment process, a technology platform, or a new way of thinking about a challenge. Seeing that work turn into practical improvements for clients is what keeps me motivated.