FIRST MANHATTAN - Key Persons
Adam Schwartz is a Partner and Portfolio Manager. He works closely with First Manhattan's Executive Chairman Robert Gottesman to manage assets for individuals, families, partnerships, and family and charitable trusts. He is committed to understanding each client's investment goals and working collaboratively to meet them.
Adam played a lead role in establishing two of the Firm's private investment vehicles-the FM First China Funds and FMZ Ventures Fund, L.P. He travels to China and San Francisco regularly and works closely with his Fund partners on company research, portfolio management, and due diligence.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2001, Adam was a Strategic Development Analyst at a European telecom company in London where he analyzed merger and acquisition opportunities. Previously, he was an Investment Banker for Morgan Stanley in New York, covering telecom companies.
Adam serves on the Board of Directors of The Child Center of NY. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics and International Relations from Brown University. He lives in Westchester with his wife, Nell, and their three children.
Job Titles:
- CFP®, ChFC®, Wealth Advisor
Aletta is a triple citizen of the USA, Spain, and Uruguay and is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Partner
Alvaro holds an MS in Accounting from Kaplan University, a BA in Economics from The University of Pennsylvania, and Series 7, 24, and 27 FINRA licenses. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a CFA® charterholder.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Officer
- Partner
Andrew Aspen is a Partner and the Chief Legal Officer. He is a member of First Manhattan's Management Team. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he was a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a Vice President at Morgan Stanley, and an Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. He also completed a judicial clerkship with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Andrew holds a JD from New York University School of Law and a BA in Spanish from Bates College. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children.
Andrew Freedberg is a Partner and Portfolio Manager. He is a member of First Manhattan's Research Committee. Since 2007, he has been managing accounts for individuals, partnerships, trusts, retirement accounts, and endowments.
Previously, Andrew was a Research Analyst for First Manhattan for more than 10 years, following companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods, Retail, Media, and Services sectors. Between 2010 and 2015, he was the Firm's Director of Research, during which time the nine primary Research Analysts reported directly to him.
Andrew holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Officer
- Member of the Management Team
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Anna Baghdasaryan is a Managing Director and Research Analyst covering the Consumer Discretionary and Business Services sectors. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2019, she was a Senior Investment Analyst at Aravt Global, where she focused on the Consumer Discretionary and Business Services sectors. Previously, she was an Investment Analyst covering consumer and industrial companies at Karsch Capital.
Job Titles:
- CFP®, Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Co - Head of Wealth Planning
Arthur Stainman is a Senior Portfolio Manager with multiple decades of investment research and investment management experience.
Job Titles:
- Relationship Manager
- Senior Managing Director
Arthur Tambaro is a Senior Managing Director and Relationship Manager. His primary focus is cultivating deep client relationships and delivering first-class client service. Previously, he was First Manhattan's Chief Operations Officer, the Head of Trading, and a member of the Firm's Management Team. He worked across the Firm to provide Portfolio Managers and clients with customized solutions across a range of unique requests and helped to design First Manhattan's new portfolio management platform.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2011, Arthur worked at Pershing LLC as a Relationship Manager for several firms, including First Manhattan. Earlier in his career, he was an Equity Trader and a Managing Executive of an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction for an independent broker-dealer.
Arthur holds a BS in Finance from Siena College, as well as Series 7, 24, 63, and 55 FINRA licenses.
He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Kelly, and their three children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Officer
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Research Analyst
- Senior Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Relationship Manager
Ben Clammer is a Managing Director and Relationship Manager. He seeks to help clients think strategically, providing holistic advice regarding investment and financial planning matters.
In addition, Ben is the Product Manager for the First Manhattan Excelsior ETFs (FMCX and FMCE).
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2018, Ben spent eight years at JP Morgan Private Bank. Previously, he served as a Naval Aviator, operating from forward-deployed aircraft carriers in support of multiple overseas operations. He is the recipient of the Navy Air Medal for valor in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ben holds an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School and a BA in Political Science from Trinity College. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
- Value - Oriented Portfolio Manager
Byron Nimocks is a Senior Portfolio Manager. He leverages his many years of investment management experience to manage portfolios for both high-net-worth clients and institutions. He joined First Manhattan in 1988 as a Research Analyst and was previously a Partner at the Firm through 2011.
Byron holds an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a BA from Hendrix College.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Christopher Noelcke is a Managing Director and Research Analyst covering the Internet & E-commerce sectors. He has over 15 years of experience in public equities investing, with a focus on internet and technology. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2025, he was a Managing Director at Yarra Square Partners, where he spent over four years. Previously, he served as a Senior Analyst at New Mountain Vantage, where he had an eight-year tenure.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Relationship Manager
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Head Trader
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Senior Managing Director
Covino, Jeremy - CEO, Chief Compliance Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Member of the Additional Firm Executives Team
- Senior Managing Director
Dan Helmick is a Partner and Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 1997, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant at Ernst & Young.
Dan holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business and a BA in Art History from Trinity College.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Research Analyst
- Senior Managing Director
David Muccia is a Senior Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, and Research Analyst with more than 15 years of investment research experience. He works with his brother, Timothy Muccia.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2007, David was a Senior Analyst at both Pirate Capital-where he evaluated and recommended concentrated equity investments-and at FrontPoint Partners-where he focused on convertible arbitrage. Previously, he was a Senior Associate at Fleet Bank, analyzing high-yield bond investments in the Restaurant and Supermarket sectors.
David serves on the Board of Directors of the McCaddin McQuirk Foundation. He holds an MBA from the School of Business at Babson College and a BSFS from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
Deborah Waldman is a Senior Managing Director and Wealth Advisor with more than 20 years of financial planning experience. She seeks to help her clients think strategically, providing holistic advice regarding investment and financial planning matters.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2011, Deborah was a Financial Advisor at Alliance Bernstein for 20 years. Previously, she held positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where she worked in the foreign exchange trading room, and at money center banks, including Bank of Montreal, First Chicago, and Citibank as a Foreign Exchange Liaison.
Deborah serves on the Investment Committee for the Katonah Museum of Art and volunteers as an alumni mentor to Barnard College and Colgate University students. She holds a BA in Economics and Latin American studies from Barnard College.
Deborah lives in Manhattan with her husband and has two sons.
Job Titles:
- CFP®, Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Co - Head of Wealth Planning
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Research Trader
Dickson Pau is a Research Associate covering the Large-Cap Technology sector. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2022, he earned an MBA from the Value Investing Program at Columbia Business School, where he graduated with Dean's Honors. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst at Ascender Capital.
In addition to his MBA, Dickson holds a BBA in Global Business Studies from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he graduated with First Class Honors.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Eric holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and an AB from Bowdoin College. He is a CFA® charterholder.
Frank Han - Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Frank Han is a Managing Director and Research Analyst covering the Mid-Cap Technology sector. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2022, he was a Senior Analyst at Tensile Capital, where he focused on both public and private investments in small- and mid-cap software companies. Previously, he was a Senior Associate at Sansome Partners and an Analyst at Morgan Stanley.
Frank holds a BS in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and a BA in Economics from Yale University, where he graduated with distinction.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
George Garfunkel is a Senior Managing Director and Wealth Advisor with more than 40 years of tax and financial planning experience. He seeks to help his clients think strategically, providing holistic advice regarding investment and financial planning matters.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2002, George practiced law for 40 years, concentrating on business, tax, and financial advice for professionals. He was a Founding Partner of the largest health care law firm in the New York metropolitan area.
George is committed to community service. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Food Bank for New York City, Trustee of the Town of Palm Beach United Way, Emeritus Board Member of Public Health Solutions, and Emeritus Trustee of the American Jewish Historical Society. He holds an LLB from Columbia University School of Law and a BA from Cornell University.
George lives in Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife and has 13 grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman
- Member of the Research Committee
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer
- Partner
- Partner, the Chief Technology Officer
Graham Clifford is a Partner, the Chief Technology Officer, and a member of First Manhattan's Management Team. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2020, Graham was the Chief Technology Officer for PointState Capital. Previously, he was the Chief Information Officer for Astenbeck Capital Management and held various technology management roles at Phibro Energy.
Graham holds an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business and a BA in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Haven. He also holds Series 3 and 7 FINRA licenses and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer
- Member of the Management Team
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
- Research Analyst
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Analyst
Himayani Puri is a Partner, Portfolio Manager, the Head of Research, and a member of First Manhattan's Management Team. She serves as the Portfolio Manager for proprietary vehicles as well as for the First Manhattan Excelsior ETFs (FMCX and FMCE). She has nearly three decades of experience as a value-oriented investor across multiple industries and cycles. For nearly two decades, she has been entrusted with building, managing, and leading effective investment research efforts. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Himayani held senior roles at other investment firms, including as Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Director of Research.
Jack Varon is a Partner, Portfolio Manager, and member of First Manhattan's Research Committee. He worked closely with David Gottesman, the founder of First Manhattan, from 1985 until his death in 2022.
Jack holds a BA in Economics from Yeshiva University.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Relationship Manager
- Wealth Advisor
Jay Vodofsky is a Partner and Relationship Manager with multiple decades of tax and financial planning experience. He seeks to help his clients think strategically, providing holistic advice regarding investment and financial planning matters.
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director, Head of Trusts & Estates
Jennifer McCarthy is a Senior Managing Director and the Head of Trusts & Estates. She works closely with clients on trust and estate planning topics such as reviewing existing plans, making recommendations, and working with clients' legal professionals to implement revisions that help to achieve personal, income, and estate tax planning goals. Her approach to partnering with a client's attorney, accountant, and Portfolio Manager fosters a holistic, all-encompassing approach that allows for successful planning outcomes. Jennifer can also assist with family discussions and education related to family governance and dynamics and helping the next generation understand the goals and intent of family wealth.
Jennifer has almost two decades of industry experience, previously as a Trust Counsel and the Chair of Next-Generation Planning at Fiduciary Trust Company International. Prior to that, she was in private practice for 15 years, 13 of which were at Davidson, Dawson & Clark, LLP, where in her role as Counsel, she represented clients in connection with estate planning, the administration of trusts and estates, and residential real-estate transactions. She holds a JD and LLM in taxation from New York Law School and a BS from Iona College.
Jennifer serves on the New York State Bar Association's Estate and Trust Administration Committee and is Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Real Property Trust and Estate Section. She was recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for four years in a row from 2014-2017.
Jeremy Covino - CEO, Chief Compliance Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Senior Managing Director
Jeremy Covino is a Senior Managing Director and the Chief Compliance Officer, with almost 25 years of financial services experience, including two decades focused on regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2023, Jeremy was the Global Chief Compliance Officer at Capula Investment Management LLP in the UK. Previously, he worked at Fidelity Investments for eighteen years in various compliance roles of increasing responsibility and seniority in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the UK.
Jeremy holds an MBA from Babson College and a BS in Finance and Marketing from Syracuse University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director, Head Trader
John Clifford is a Managing Director and the Head Trader. He has more than 25 years of financial trading experience. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2005, he was the Head Trader at Roanoke Asset Management. Previously, he worked at Neuberger Berman, Oppenheimer Capital, and on the floor of the COMEX (formerly known as the Commodity Exchange Inc.).
John holds a BA in Business Management from Adelphi University, a Certificate in Financial Risk Management from New York University, and Series 7, 24, 55, and 63 FINRA licenses.
Job Titles:
- Head of Operations
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director, Head of Operations, Supervision, and Trading
Joseph Sammarco is a Senior Managing Director, the Head of Operations, Supervision, and Trading, and member of First Manhattan's Management Team. His experience in the financial services industry includes an extensive background in operations, technology, and financial products and services.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Kenya Henderson is a Senior Managing Director, the Chief Marketing Officer, and a member of First Manhattan's Management Team. She has over 25 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, content development, public relations, and strategic communications. She also has expertise in building new marketing and communications functions at financial services companies from the ground up.
Leonard Berman is a Partner and Portfolio Manager with more than 20 years of experience in the investment industry, including an extensive background in equity and fixed-income securities analysis. He provides wealth planning and investment management services for individuals, families, professional partnerships, business owners, and charitable trusts.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Matt Greenberg is a Senior Portfolio Manager for individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2022, he was the President and Portfolio Manager at MRJ Capital, Inc.
Previously, Matt was a Portfolio Manager and Analyst at Iridian Asset Management and an Analyst at Greenhaven Associates. Earlier in his career, he was an Assistant Treasurer at Central National-Gottesman and a Certified Public Accountant at Deloitte.
Matt holds a BS from Brooklyn College.
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director, Head of Trusts & Estates
Job Titles:
- CFP®, Director, Wealth Advisor
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director, Research Trader
Michael Gasner is a Partner and Portfolio Manager. He works closely with Andrew Freedberg. Previously, he was a Research Analyst for First Manhattan for more than a decade, following companies in the Industrials sector.
Earlier in this career, Michael was an Auditor for Deloitte & Touche, where he earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
Michael holds an MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business and a BA in Accounting from Yeshiva University. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children.
Michael Kelter is a Partner and Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2014, he worked at Goldman Sachs in its Global Investment Research division.
Michael holds an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business and BAs in Finance and Economics from the University of Richmond, where he graduated summa cum laude.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Research Analyst
- Senior Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Trust & Estate Planning Expert
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Nicole Sliwa is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. She works closely with First Manhattan's Executive Chairman Robert Gottesman to manage assets for individuals, families, partnerships, and family and charitable trusts. Committed to deeply understanding each client's investment objectives, she takes a collaborative, relationship-first approach to helping them achieve their goals.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2019, Nicole spent 14 years as a Group Director in the Private Wealth Management Division at Morgan Stanley. She holds a BS in Finance and Economics from Canisius University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- ChFC®, CLU®, Wealth Advisor
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Senior Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Trust & Estate Planning Expert
Robert Nemzin, Esq., is a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, and Trust & Estate Planning Expert with over fifteen years of industry experience. He works closely with the Groveman Group to provide clients with customized and creative solutions to help them prioritize and reach their financial goals and wealth needs.
Prior to joining First Manhattan in 2023, Robert was a Senior Wealth Planner at HSBC Global Private Banking, working with ultra-high-net-worth families around the globe to address their financial, tax, estate, business, and philanthropic needs. Previously, he was an attorney for the Estate and Business Succession Planning and Tax Groups at Butzel Long, one of Michigan's top law firms, for over 12 years. His practice focused on tax planning for ultra-high-net-worth families, business succession planning, corporate and partnership tax planning, and planning for nonprofit formation and governance.
Robert is a Council Member of the American Bar Association Real Property, Trust & Law Section. He holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, a JD from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a BA from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.
He has written extensively about trust and estate planning for various industry publications and has been a featured speaker at numerous industry events.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director, Head of Operations, Supervision, and Trading
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Relationship Manager
- Senior Managing Director
Job Titles:
- CFP®, Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Relationship Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Committee
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Management Team
- Member of the Research Committee
- Partner
- Portfolio Manager
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- Vice President, Research