Jim Switzer

Head of Credit Trading
Alliance Bernstein

James Switzer joined AllianceBernstein in 2011 as global Head of Credit Trading, overseeing both investment-grade and high-yield credit trading. Previously, he was a managing director at Société Générale, where he managed the Financial Institutions Credit Trading Desk, and at BNP Paribas, where he managed the Investment Grade Trading Desk from 2000 to 2002. Switzer also formerly served as a sector portfolio manager/trader at UBS Principal Finance (from 2002 to 2005) and at Sigma Capital (from 2005 to 2008). Earlier in his career, he worked at Paine Webber and Co.; Kidder, Peabody & Co.; and Alex. Brown & Sons. Switzer holds a BA in biology from Colgate University.

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Jim.

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Summit Day 2

Friday, March 6th, 2015

09:00 All Star Panel: Price takers to price makers - As dealers retrench, where and how can you find reliable pricing?

One of the toughest tasks for buy side money managers is price discovery. With regulations resulting in a reduction in the amount of inventory that investment banks are holding, alongside the ongoing liquidity drought, the role of price makers is shifting to the buy side, as money managers take on the responsibility of price makers. Our all star panel on day two, representing all corners of the industry, will provide expertise on:

Moving from a price maker to a price taker - how is it done and how can you generate accurate and reliable pricing?
Does the buy side now need to act more as liquidity providers and price makers rather than takers as increased inventory now exists on buy side books?
Is there a sufficient market infrastructure to facilitate a buy side price making model?
Debate - Should the buy side be more regulated now as they act as price makers as well as takers?
With the buy side acting more as price makers and warehousing risk - is there enough liquidity in stressed market conditions so the buy side can move risk?

11:40 360° Perspective: Embracing a new mindset - How must the buy and sell side adapt to promote innovation and prosper in this new market structure?

As fixed income markets transform and the way you trade on a daily basis changes, many industry experts not only suggest that changes in technology and market structure is required, but also a change in mindset. With your roles and the way you plan and execute trades changing, new innovative ways of thinking and working also need to be adopted to help both the buy side progress and harness change. Attend this industry leading panel where they will discuss: 

How do both the buy side and sell side need to change behaviorally as innovation continues to revolutionize fixed income markets? 
How is automation changing the dialogue between portfolio managers and traders? 
How are buy and sell side firms adapting their trading and investment protocols to adapt and prosper in a changing market structure? 
Is a behavioral change needed to help unlock new liquidity and push innovation further across the market?