Client Login
Superdex logo

Our mission is making modern, effective, transparent, and inexpensive strategies available to everyone.

information icon

Information

The value of information has always been at the base of advancement in investing. We live in and era of continuously available data, of all kinds, on every subject. It only makes sense, we should capitalize on that advantage. We have made accessing, sourcing, validating, and organizing data the foundation of our business.

academics icon

Academics

Academics is at the heart of everything we do. At the foundation is the adaptive market hypothesis (AMH), combines principles of the well-known and often controversial efficient market hypothesis (EMH) the later work with behavioral finance. Andrew Lo, the theory’s founder, believes that investors are mainly rational, but also overreact, especially during periods of heightened market volatility. We believe that the academics of stock selection are evolving rapidly. 

technology icon

Technology

The power of technology has changed the investment industry. We are not concerned with seeking a different result, but rather we embrace the increasing use of technology by harnessing it. We continue to add technological capabilities to our quantitative approach in order to design customized portfolios for the needs of institutional investors.

innovation icon

Innovation

We have always been defined by our innovation and our commitment to improvement is unwavering. We strive to continuously develop in every way, especially the strategies and services for our investors.

adjust icon

Customization

Customization is the way of the future. Rather than sell what we like, we ask what you need. Through this process, we have developed a robust suite of tools that enables us to solve for investors’ priorities. 

value icon

Value

Prices predictably vary around reasonable estimates of fair value because investors are emotional by nature. Understanding the variables that contribute to the value of a stock allows us to deploy technology to identify and confirm them efficiently. There are constant opportunities in the movements around fair value, and our systematic strategies are designed to improve outcomes for our investors.

pattern icon

Patterns

Nature is the best source of patterns, the sequence of plant growth, shell spirals, and even leaf arrangements have influenced architecture, design, and composition since the beginning. Companies also exhibit clear patterns, as do stocks and indices in general. Understanding and programming for patterns is foundational to our success.

investors icon

Investors

We strive for investment return, continually looking to efficiently capture and deliver return. However, our first responsibility is the safety of the assets that are entrusted to us. Along with our custodial partners, we continuously invest in security technology and evolve with the safety and security of assets. We manage funds as a fiduciary at every level, including the continuity of the firm, the people chosen for the team and everything in between.

risk management icon

Risk Management

Investing involves risk, but we seek to better understand and control it. Our systematic, rules-based approach incorporates various levels of risk management where and however possible. Our expertise, technology, and platforms flexibility give our strategies the oversight they need to perform.

empower icon

Empowerment

We are committed to making our research and technology-driven strategies widely accessible, empowering investors to pursue their financial goals.

compass icon

Exploration

The nature of our business is forward-looking, requiring both a plan for tomorrow and a vision for the future. We continue scanning the horizon for new opportunities and challenges.

Leadership

Our team, including senior management at Arax Investment Partners, leverages extensive resources to deliver strategies that keep up with the pace of change.

Jon Duprau: Managing Partner
Jon Duprau

Managing Partner

Kenneth Elliott: Partner, Director of Institutional Solutions
Kenneth Elliott

Partner, Director of Institutional Solutions

Maria Lee: Partner, Chief Compliance Officer
Maria Lee

Partner, Chief Compliance Officer

Michael Lederer: Partner, Director of Investments
Michael Lederer

Partner, Director of Investments

Haig Ariyan - Chief Executive Officer
Haig Ariyan

Chief Executive Officer, Arax

Diego Galan - Chief Financial Officer
Diego Galan

Chief Financial Officer, Arax

John O'Connor - Chief Operating Officer
John O'Connor

Chief Operating Officer, Arax

Sumit Handa - Chief Investment Officer
Sumit Handa

Chief Investment Officer, Arax

Amy Rizzo - Chief Growth Officer
Amy Rizzo

Chief Growth Officer, Arax

Zbynek Zozelsky - Head of Compliance and Supervision
Zbynek Kozelsky

Head of Compliance and Supervision, Arax

Christiana Didizian - Associate
Christiana Didizian

Associate, Arax

David Vertsberger - Controller
David Vertsberger

Controller, Arax

Emma Verhaegen - Executive Assistant
Emma Verhaegen

Executive Assistant, Arax

Creating strategic partnerships.

Redbird Capital Partners logo
ARAX Investment Partners logo
Raymond James logo
Pershing Square Capital Management
Charles IT logo
ACA Global logo
Ashton Thomas Private Wealth logo
Jon Duprau: Managing Partner
Jon Duprau

Managing Partner

Jon has spent his career in quantitative analysis and portfolio management and was an early advocate of combining academics and technology in financial markets. He has consistently challenged conventional wisdom and searched for original solutions that add value for investors. His investment methods have been implemented by institutional investors, hedge funds and investment offices in several countries. Through the evolution of his contributions, investors have better recognized returns, while improving efficiency and reducing security selection bias.

With SuperDex, Jon and his partners are intent on delivering innovative and impactful strategies that evolve with the markets. He plays an active role in strategy development, including their transition to incorporating artificial intelligence. Their unique insight into alternative data and pioneering selection criterion have allowed for the development of several of the industry’s influential custom index strategies.

Prior to establishing SuperDex, Jon was a quantitative analyst, then portfolio manager at Prudential Securities where he worked to develop the firm’s efforts to incorporate technology into their capital markets solutions. At J. P. Morgan Securities, then Alex Brown, he helped institutions capitalize on quantitative research, rules-based stock selection and improve the overall productivity in portfolios. He developed a suite of enhanced indices, the Reliability and Efficiency Ratios that evaluate data and score investment solutions based on the most important metrics. Jon is also active in his community, champions several cultural and faith-based initiatives.

Kenneth Elliott: Partner, Director of Institutional Solutions
Kenneth Elliott

Partner – Director of Institutional Solutions

Kenny leads SuperDex’s growth and expansion in the institutional asset management market. Kenny overseas the firm’s modern, effective, transparent, and cost-efficient investment strategies and works with institutions on customization and implementation. As a Partner and Director of Institutional Solutions, his responsibilities include ensuring that investment portfolios are managed and executed to meet stated investment objectives.

Prior to SuperDex, Kenny accumulated valuable experience at JPMorgan Chase, where he worked progressively from business banking to alternatives and quantitative strategies in New York. At Alex Brown, he developed his skills in private markets through a dedicated division at their Park Avenue location. His years of experience offers clients his indispensable knowledge of indexing and portfolio construction, but also that of his extraordinary leadership presence that continues to contribute to strategic development.

Kenny holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance from Loyola University. He is a certified Accredited Asset Management Specialist® (AAMS®), holds the Series 7 and 66 securities registrations, underscoring his commitment to professional excellence and industry standards.

Maria Lee: Partner, Chief Compliance Officer
Maria Lee

Chief Compliance Officer

Maria Lee is the Chief Compliance Officer & Vice President of Operations and has been a part of Index Technologies Group since inception.  Maria is primarily responsible for ensuring management and employees are in compliance with the rules and regulations of supervising agencies, in addition to the company’s policies and procedures.  She has developed expertise crafting compliance and code of ethics policies, as well as specializing in navigating the increasing complex regulatory environment.  

Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Registered Client Associate at J.P. Morgan Securities, then Alex Brown, where she was responsible for team operations, the compliance liaison, strategic planning and developing content for marketing and RFPs.  Before she joined the team, Maria held positions at Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets with over 16 years of industry experience.   

Maria is a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, holds Series 7 and 66 licenses. Maria graduated from California State Long Beach University with dual majors in Business Management and Operations.  

Michael Lederer: Partner, Director of Investments
Michael Lederer

Director of Investments

Michael is the Director of Investments, primarily operating as a portfolio manager and trader for the team. He leads the portfolio management team’s asset allocation and portfolio construction efforts, works extensively on index and manager selection and implementation, including the firm’s approach to passive indexing. He has been an instrumental part of designing the firm’s platform and strategy lineup.

Prior to joining the firm, Michael was the lead Programing Director at Bloomberg, where he helped the institutional investors increase efficiency and manage risk in the capital markets. His passion has always been in quantitative analysis and how data can be harnessed and evaluated to better capture return.

The son of a bond trader, Michael took an early interest in financial markets. After graduating from University of California at Santa Barbara, he joined a municipal bond trading desk, where he learned to underwrite and trade a wide variety of California issues. In the following years, he transitioned to portfolio construction where he learned the optimization processes used by the most sophisticated asset managers in the industry. This motivated him to specialize in financial data and analytics.

In his free time, Mike is an avid golfer, a voracious reader, and an aspiring cook. His interests include politics, travel, and the great outdoors.

Haig Ariyan - Chief Executive Officer
Haig Ariyan

Chief Executive Officer
Arax Investment Partners

Haig Ariyan is the Chief Executive Officer of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Haig oversees all operations, strategic direction, and leadership of the firm. Prior to joining Arax, Haig was the President and CEO of Alex. Brown, America’s first investment banking firm. While at Alex. Brown, Haig oversaw 220 Financial Advisors in 18 offices and $70B in client assets. Haig was the Head of Global Wealth Solutions, the product and solutions platform supporting all of Raymond James’ more than 8,000 affiliated advisors. Prior to leading the sale and integration of Alex. Brown to Raymond James Financial, Haig was the head of Deutsche Bank Wealth Management in the Americas.

Haig joined Alex. Brown & Sons in 1996 as a client advisor in Greenwich, Connecticut. After several years of building a successful practice working with high-net-worth families and playing an integral role in Deutsche Bank’s acquisition of BT Alex. Brown, Haig was named Regional Executive of the Greenwich office. In 2005, he was promoted to manage the midtown New York City office, while continuing to oversee the Greenwich business. He was also responsible for opening Deutsche Bank’s Wall Street branch. In 2009, Haig served as Head of the Eastern Region of Private Client Services and one year later was appointed the Head of the American wealth management franchise. Haig started his career at Dean Witter Reynolds.

Haig is active on the board of trustees of the Diocese of the Armenian Church as well as the central council of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). He has served as chairman of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund’s investment committee and is a member of the board of the Dadourian Foundation, a private family foundation based in New York. Haig is also a member of the board of the MassMutual Trust Company.

Haig holds a B.S. from Rutgers University.

Diego Galan - Chief Financial Officer
Diego Galan

Chief Financial Officer
Arax Investment Partners

Diego Galan is the Chief Financial Officer of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Diego is responsible for all financial-related activities, operations, and the company’s medium-to-long term strategy. Prior to joining Arax, Diego was the co-founder and COO of Bento Engine, a FinTech that combines a powerful advice engine, a proprietary content library and timing expertise to make Financial Advisors more impactful and efficient.

Between 2016 and 2021, Diego was the CFO and Head of Strategy of Alex. Brown and Raymond James Global Wealth Solutions, which provides the investment solutions platform for the Private Client Group’s 7,400 financial advisors. Diego was responsible for financial operations, strategy and broad change initiatives, including product strategy and roadmap, technology, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Prior to Raymond James, Diego was the Head of Strategy and Corporate Development for the Deutsche Bank Wealth Management business in the Americas, leading a team responsible for strategy and business development for Deutsche Bank’s Private Bank and Brokerage businesses in the US and Latin America. Before joining Deutsche Bank, Diego was a Project Leader with The Boston Consulting Group, where he managed BCG and client teams on large-scale strategy and process improvement projects in the US, Europe and Latin America.

Diego holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from the Universidad Catolica Argentina, a Masters in Finance from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

John O'Connor - Chief Operating Officer
John O'Connor

Chief Operating Officer
Arax Investment Partners

John O’Connor is the Chief Operating Officer of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, John is responsible for overall operations and technology strategy and execution. Prior to joining Arax, John was President and COO of Brosnan Risk Consultants where he developed a small, regional, security and consulting firm into an innovative, industry leading, national business growing 15x over 10 years with over 6000 employees in 48 states.

John’s other previous leadership experiences include: KPMG Partner, where he was responsible for the build-out of the U.S. insurance operations consulting practice, COO of Endurance Specialty Insurance (now Sompo International), where he was responsible for building and running a global shared services organization to support the company’s geographic and product line expansion, and Accenture Partner, where he was responsible for strategic client relationships, alliances and multi-year transformation programs within the global financial services industry, including post-merger integration, shared services and technology strategy and implementation.

John holds a B.S. from Fairfield University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow of the Life Management Institute.

Sumit Handa - Chief Investment Officer
Sumit Handa

Chief Investment Officer
Arax Investment Partners

Sumit Handa is the Chief Investment Officer at Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Sumit is responsible for the day-to-day investment activities. Prior to joining Arax, Sumit served as Managing Director/Partner, and Co-Head of the investment committee at Pennington Partners & Co., a multi-family office. Before Pennington, Sumit was the Head of Asset Allocation at Tiber Capital/Insight Investment/BNY Mellon, where he was responsible for structuring of transactions, and managing assets for global insurance & reinsurance companies. Prior to joining Insight Investment, Sumit served as the Chief Investment Officer for the City of Philadelphia Board of Pensions Retirement Plans and was also a portfolio manager primarily at DKR Capital.

Sumit is active in the community, and currently sits on the Board of Young Audiences.

Sumit holds a BS in Finance and a JD from St John’s University.

Amy Rizzo - Chief Growth Officer
Amy Rizzo

Chief Growth Officer
Arax Investment Partners

Amy Rizzo is the Chief Growth Officer of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Amy leads recruiting, integration, and business development efforts. Amy’s 20 years in financial services began with roles at PaineWebber and Legg Mason, followed by 16 years at Alex. Brown where she acted as Regional Executive in South Florida. Most recently, Amy transitioned to the independent advisory space, consulting with advisors looking to break away from the wire house environment, as well as independent advisors seeking change for various reasons. Amy led due diligence efforts and supported advisors in some of their biggest life decisions. Subsequently, she became a Regional Director at Apollon Wealth Management, a fast-growing RIA where she led M&A efforts and spearheaded operational and platform enhancements.

Amy holds a B.A. from the University of Miami.

Zbynek Zozelsky - Head of Compliance and Supervision
Zbynek Kozelsky

Head of Compliance and Supervision
Arax Investment Partners

Zbynek Kozelsky is the Head of Compliance and Supervision of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Zbynek oversees the firms regulatory and legal work, and helps leverage compliance and risk management resources from acquisitions. Prior to joining Arax, Zbynek oversaw supervisory and operational functions of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank, including US and Latin America Investment Advisory. He had been with the bank for 23 years, including working with Key Client Partners of Deutsche Bank Wealth Management.

Zbynek holds a B.A. from New England College, and an MBA from Sacred Heart University.

Christiana Didizian - Associate
Christiana Didizian

Associate
Arax Investment Partners

Christiana Didizian is an Associate of Arax Investment Partners.

At Arax, Christiana is actively involved with all stages of the acquisitions across the company. Christiana is also part of the investment team and is responsible for the marketing strategy.

Christiana holds a B.S. from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

David Vertsberger - Controller
David Vertsberger

Controller
Arax Investment Partners

David Vertsberger is the Controller of Arax Investment Partners. 

At Arax, David is responsible for cost structure optimization across the Arax ecosystem for middle- and back-office functions including billing, accounting reporting, IT and more. Prior to joining Arax, David was the Legal Entity Controller of Summit Health, an approximately $9bn healthcare company, where he focused on financial reporting and accounting. David began his career at City MD and has a proven track record, successfully centralizing the finance function within HoldCo. David is CPA certified. 

David holds an M.S. in Accounting from Yeshiva University.

Emma Verhaegen - Executive Assistant
Emma Verhaegen

Executive Assistant
Arax Investment Partners

Emma Verhaegen is the Executive Assistant of Arax Investment Partners.

Prior to joining Arax, Emma was a recruiter at WhiteCap Search, where she helped companies find talent for their teams in various services areas within the financial services sector. Before that, Emma was a talent acquisition manager at Premiere Response.

Emma holds a B.S. from The Anisfield School of Business at Ramapo College of New Jersey.