Nikhil Awasthi

About Nikhil Awasthi

Driven by a passion for simplifying complex regulatory challenges through technology, innovation, and strong governance.Strategic, delivery-focused technology leader with a proven track record of building and scaling global Compliance and Financial Crime technology platforms. Extensive hands-on experience designing and implementing solutions across trade surveillance, AML and financial crime monitoring, regulatory reporting, supervisory controls, and regulatory inquiries, with deep engagement across global regulators.Recognized as a trusted business partner, advisor, and people leader, with a strong focus on long-term partnerships, talent development, and building high-performing global teams. Known for translating complex regulatory requirements into practical, scalable, and resilient technology solutions.Strong analytical foundation with deep understanding of financial instruments, trade flows, risk metrics, data controls, and governance frameworks. Significant experience leading large, complex global programs across regions, asset classes, and regulatory regimes.Technically hands-on with experience across multiple programming languages, messaging frameworks, system design, and building fault-tolerant enterprise platforms. Increasing focus on data architecture, data quality, lineage, and governance as critical enablers of effective surveillance and regulatory credibility.Actively driving innovation in RegTech, with particular emphasis on:Advanced analytics, statistical models, and knowledge graphsAI/ML-driven surveillance optimizationGenerative AI use cases for alert triage, investigative efficiency, regulatory response automation, and risk insightsPlatform simplification and modernization to reduce operational friction and improve signal qualityCurrently leading global technology functions spanning:Trade Surveillance Technology (1L & 2L) across Institutional and Investment Management businessesAML & Financial Crime — asset movement monitoring, AML risk assessments, bribery & corruption detection, sanctions surveillanceSurveillance Analytics & Optimization Center of ExcellenceRegulatory Reporting & Inquiries — CAT, Equities Compliance reporting, Bluesheets, global Reg InquiriesNon-Financial Risk & Supervisory Controls

Experience

1. Managing Director

   Morgan Stanley

   Sep 2017 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Global head for technology teams covering- Institutional Trade Surveillance Compliance Technology- Equities Regulatory Reporting- Supervisory Controls & Unauthorized Trade Monitoring- Data Analytics for Market Abuse Investigation

Education

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

  Master’s Degree, Computer Science & Engineering

  1995 — 1996

• Indian Institute of Management Mumbai

  Master’s Degree, Operations Management

• Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

  Bachelor’s Degree, Engineering

Skills

• Software Development
• Unix
• Software Project Management
• Enterprise Software
• Enterprise Architecture
• Project Management
• Program Management
• Soa
• Business Analysis
• Requirements Analysis
• Cloud Computing
• Product Management
• Sdlc
• Solution Architecture
• IT Strategy
• Telecommunications
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Vendor Management
• Integration
• Agile Methodologies
• Business Intelligence
• Management
• Business Process Improvement
• Pmp
• Leadership
• Architecture