Avijit Barua is a highly accomplished investment professional with over a decade of experience in portfolio management, specializing in equity multifactor strategies, quantitative equity strategies, and asset allocation. His deep expertise in risk models, optimization, and derivatives, combined with his strong leadership skills from five years of military service in the U.S. Navy, positions him as a dynamic leader in the financial industry.
Currently serving as Portfolio Manager, Global Equity – Quantitative Investment Management at the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), Mr. Barua has played a pivotal role in managing systematic equity strategies, ESG and Climate equity strategies, and full index replication across various asset classes. His strategic vision led to the successful development and launch of two internal systematic multifactor equity strategies, each seeded with $500 million, demonstrating his ability to create high-performing investment solutions. Additionally, his leadership in implementing OPERS’ internal capability to trade options on S&P 500 futures has enabled opportunistic equity volatility management, further enhancing the organization’s investment capabilities. His expertise extends to co-managing quantitative equity strategies that have consistently outperformed market benchmarks through innovative beta exposures and cash enhancement strategies.
Prior to OPERS, Mr. Barua honed his investment acumen at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., where he served as a Senior Consultant in the Investment Management Group – Asset Strategies. In this role, he played a key part in managing fund-of-funds strategies, developing sophisticated asset allocation models, and constructing Managed Volatility Funds (MVFs). His ability to analyze market inefficiencies and optimize fund distributions contributed to superior investment performance. Additionally, his work in hedging and quantitative risk management at Nationwide Financial involved designing and executing hedge strategies to neutralize market risks and developing proprietary indices for annuity products.
Mr. Barua’s expertise in risk management extends beyond investment strategies to capital management and model validation. As a Consultant in Enterprise Risk & Capital Management, he led initiatives to validate key financial models, ensuring rigorous assessment and mitigation of market, interest rate, credit, and operational risks. His leadership in developing a stress testing framework provided invaluable insights into economic and regulatory capital resilience, supporting executive decision-making at the highest levels.
Before transitioning to the financial sector, Mr. Barua served in the United States Navy, where he developed and executed strategic plans for pre-landing operations. As a Pre-Landing Party Leader and Assistant Training Officer at Beachmaster Unit Two, he was responsible for team readiness, logistical coordination, and operational execution in high-pressure environments. His ability to lead teams, adapt to evolving challenges, and execute complex operations under stress has been a defining strength throughout his career.
With a track record of driving performance through innovative investment strategies, rigorous risk management, and strategic leadership, Avijit Barua continues to make a significant impact in the financial industry. His blend of quantitative expertise, portfolio management experience, and military-honed leadership skills makes him a formidable force in investment management.
Character
Avijit Barua is a disciplined and principled leader with a strong commitment to excellence, shaped by his military service and investment management career. His integrity, resilience, and dedication to continuous improvement drive his success in high-pressure environments.
Knowledge
With deep expertise in quantitative equity strategies, risk management, and asset allocation, Avijit Barua leverages advanced financial models and optimization techniques to enhance investment performance. His ability to develop and implement systematic strategies demonstrates his mastery of the financial industry.
Strategic
Avijit Barua excels in designing and executing investment strategies that drive long-term growth and stability, using data-driven insights and risk analysis to optimize portfolio management. His strategic vision enables organizations to navigate complex financial landscapes and seize market opportunities.
Communication
Avijit Barua effectively conveys complex financial concepts to stakeholders, ensuring clarity and informed decision-making at all levels. His ability to collaborate across teams and lead discussions on investment strategies strengthens organizational success and risk management practices.
