leading change in INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

altPILOT was created by industry veterans with a mission to deliver innovative solutions to the investment management industry. The founders of altPILOT offer a dynamic and differentiated view that compliance risk management is the foundation for the success of asset managers.

Our shared mission is to offer emerging and established managers a unique view that recognizes compliance excellence as a source of what we call “business alpha”. Our solutions are market-based and inherently collaborative; our fees are fixed to encourage engagement; and are designed to facilitate investment through manager-investor partnership.

We believe that thoughtful, tailored, and efficient risk mitigation best serves our partners and, in our experience, is far superior to the typical “one size fits all” approach of traditional compliance risk management solutions.

 

Chris Hardy | co-founder

Chris Hardy has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry, over half of that devoted exclusively to the alternative investment industry.

Most recently, Chris was Chief Compliance Officer of Whitebox Advisors LLC, a US$6 billion global alternative asset manager with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Prior to that time, he was a Partner at Ascendant Compliance Management, an industry leader in providing compliance solutions to investment advisers, broker dealers and investment companies, where Chris led the private funds consulting. Prior to joining Whitebox, Chris served as Whitebox’s primary consultant for several years and, recognizing the unique vision for success, joined Mark on the executive team.

Prior to Ascendant, Chris was an Executive Consultant at National Regulatory Services as well as COO and CCO of a significant SEC-registered separate account manager.

education

  • Trinity College (M.A. 1995)

  • Aston University School of Business (B.A. 1991, honors)

Mark Strefling | co-founder

Mark Strefling is recognized as an industry-leading investment management lawyer, regulatory compliance expert and operational risk manager with over two decades of experience in the alternative investment industry.

Prior to founding altPILOT with Chris, Mark was a partner of and served as the Chief Executive and Legal Officer of Whitebox Advisors LLC, a US$6 billion global alternative asset manager with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. With over a decade of in-house experience, Mark was responsible for the strategic leadership of global legal, compliance and operations teams, the alignment of legal and business strategy, and the design of dynamic and integrated compliance and operational control processes to mitigate enterprise risk.

Prior to serving in “in-house” roles, Mark was a Partner in the Investment Management Practice at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (formerly, Faegre & Benson LLP), leading the firm’s hedge fund practice group, pioneering innovative private fund structures, and representing managers in critical regulatory compliance matters. In this role, Mark also pioneered early legal and operational due diligence initiatives and developed innovative strategies to protect and establish investor rights.

education

  • University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management (M.B.A. | Finance | 1998)

  • Creighton University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude | 1996)

  • University of St. Thomas (B.A., cum laude | Financial Management | Accounting | 1991)