Phani Varanasi

About Phani Varanasi

Executive Director and Head of Engineering & Data Services with deep expertise in capital markets technology, enterprise data platforms, and large-scale digital transformation across global investment banking environments. Proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary engineering, data, and architecture organizations to deliver mission-critical platforms that drive revenue growth, operational resilience, and regulatory confidence.Trusted senior leader operating at Board, ExCo, and C-suite level, translating complex technology and data strategy into measurable business outcomes. Known for aligning technology investment with corporate strategy, risk appetite, and long-term shareholder value, while strengthening governance, cyber resilience, and regulatory compliance across highly regulated financial markets.Extensive experience shaping enterprise architecture, cloud and data modernization, AI-driven analytics, and platform rationalization initiatives at scale. Adept at leading global teams, managing multi-hundred-million-dollar technology portfolios, and partnering with front-office, risk, compliance, and operations leaders to enable faster time-to-market and sustainable competitive advantage.Recognized for building high-performance cultures, developing future leaders, and executing complex change programs with precision. Brings a balanced perspective across technology innovation, data stewardship, operational excellence, and board-level accountability.

Experience

1. Executive Director, Head of Engineering & Data Services, Capital Markets & Nikko Securities

   SMBC Group

   Mar 2023 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Executive owner of enterprise capital markets data engineering and transformation, responsible for defining strategy, architecture, and delivery of reference data, market data, pricing, and regulatory data platforms supporting global trading and broker-dealer businesses. Accountable for data governance, lineage, controls, and executive reporting across front, middle, and back-office.• Defined and executed the firm wide capital markets data strategy, aligning Markets, Risk, Finance, and Operations around a unified data architecture that improved data consistency, transparency, and decision-making across the full trade lifecycle.• Delivered enterprise Master Data Management (MDM) platforms covering Securities Master, Entity Master, Ratings, Industry Classification, Index Master, and Market Data, establishing golden sources with embedded lineage, controls, and reconciliation.• Modernized time-series market data and risk curve architectures, enabling scalable and governed distribution of pricing and risk data to trading, risk, finance, surveillance, and regulatory reporting platforms.• Served as executive sponsor for regulatory modernization initiatives (BCBS 239, FR Y-9C, FRTP, Volcker), strengthening governance frameworks, auditability, and control effectiveness while reducing regulatory remediation risk.• Led and scaled global engineers across North America, EMEA, APAC, and India, driving agile delivery, cloud migration, and legacy decommissioning that achieved ~60% reduction in platform run-rate costs.

Education

• NYU Stern School of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance, Strategy & Technology management

• Georgia Institute of Technology

  Master’s Degree, Computer Science

  2007 — 2008

• Osmania University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Computer Science & Enginering

  2003 — 2007

Skills

• Oracle
• Requirements Analysis
• Science
• Research
• Unix
• Research Design
• Policy Analysis
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Derivatives
• Human Rights
• Java
• Databases
• Distributed Systems
• Behavioral Science
• Social Sciences
• Sustainability
• Higher Education
• Software Engineering
• International Relations
• Qualitative Research
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Editing
• Sql
• Linux
• Program Evaluation
• Xml
• Psychology
• Non-Profits
• Political Philosophy
• C
• Programming
• Java Enterprise Edition
• Enterprise Software
• Software Development
• Public Speaking
• Python
• Sdlc
• Nonprofit Organizations
• International Development