Keith Black Named Managing Director, Program Director for the Financial Data Professional Credential 
Announcements | FDP Institute | September 21, 2021

FDP Program, founded by the CAIA Association, now able to leverage the insights and expertise of longtime leader of efforts around the CAIA curriculum 

AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS (September 21, 2021) – The Financial Data Professional (FDP) Institute, the organization behind the FDP Charter, is today announcing that Keith Black, Ph.D., CAIA, CFA, FDP, has been named Managing Director, Program Director for the Financial Data Professional (FDP) credential.

The FDP Institute was founded by the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association in 2019 to address the growing need in finance for a workforce that has the skills to perform in a digitized world, where an increasing number of decisions are, and will continue to be, driven by data and analytics. Dr. Black was, in fact, the first person to earn the FDP credential. He will now be shifting his focus to efforts around the FDP Charter after spending the past 11 years in a number of senior roles with CAIA, most recently as Managing Director, Content Strategy, where he played a major role in overseeing CAIA’s Level I and Level II exams, updating the organization’s curriculum, and providing ongoing education and thought leadership to CAIA’s global network of chapters and members.

“I have enjoyed my role with the CAIA Association, where I had the privilege of engaging with our global membership around alternative investments.  Now is an excellent time to transition from alternative investments to alternative data, and devote more of my efforts to educating the finance marketplace about the key aspects of data science, the disruptive impacts it is having on so many roles, the ethical considerations that cannot get lost in a data-driven mix, and the value the FDP credential can provide to all those who want to stay on the cutting edge of finance and technology,” said Dr. Black.

“With the ongoing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into all of the major finance functions, including portfolio construction and risk management, now is the time to ensure that the FDP credential has the additional leadership and resources it will need to continue its growth,” added William J. Kelly, CEO of the CAIA Association. “Keith is one of our longest tenured CAIA leaders and, as FDP Charterholder #1, he is uniquely positioned to help the program continue to enhance its curriculum and to reach an ever-expanding pool of professionals who can benefit from all the FDP program has to offer.” 
In just two years since the program’s launch, the FDP Program has welcomed Charterholders in 36 countries around the world. Registration for the next round of the FDP Exam, taking place in April 2022, opens on November 22, 2021 and more information on exams and schedules can be found here.

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About the CAIA Association  
CAIA Association is a global professional credentialing body dedicated to creating greater alignment, transparency, and knowledge for all investors, with a specific emphasis on alternative investments. A Member-driven organization representing more than 11,000 professionals in more than 100 countries, CAIA Association advocates for the highest ethical standards. The organization provides unbiased insight on a broad range of investment strategies and industry issues, key among them being efforts to bring greater diversification to portfolio construction decisions to achieve better long-term investor outcomes. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of the organization’s mission, please visit https://caia.org/.

About the Financial Data Professional (FDP) Institute
The FDP Institute, the organization behind the FDP Charter, helps finance professionals develop data science skills applying business acumen as well as the ability to communicate technical information across organizations. From a focus on machine learning and AI techniques in portfolio and risk management to systematic statistical solutions in operations, the Institute’s mission is to create an inclusive community of practitioners across competencies. For more information, please visit https://fdpinstitute.org/.
 

Keith Black, Ph.D., CAIA, CFA, FDP

Managing Director,

Program Director FDP Charter

Contact Keith