David Hait
David J. Hait
Founder, Chief Executive Officer | OptionMetrics
A pioneering innovator and leader in his field of financial data and analytics, David J. Hait, PhD has excelled as the founder and chief executive officer of OptionMetrics since 1999. Through the company—which specializes in providing information, data, and analytics for the equity and index options market to support research—he serves as technology lead and works with his staff on new and existing business ventures, project development, marketing, and how to meet goals. He primarily researches technology, mentors younger employees in implementing various models, attends industry conferences to stay updated on financial and technological developments, and works hard to ensure the best for his clients. Guided by a strong work ethic and passion, Dr. Hait is proud to have started OptionMetrics and pioneered an entire industry of data-driven options trading.
Prior to starting OptionMetrics, Dr. Hait was in the doctoral program at New York University, ultimately earning a Doctor of Philosophy in financial economics. His dissertation research focused on the equity options market, and as part of his research, he created a dataset for empirical research and options. In the processing of collecting data, he recognized how valuable it would be for many companies and academic institutions, which led to him approaching companies to research the data he needed. He previously served as a consultant for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley, providing trading and risk management services, and as the vice president of PaineWebber.
Dr. Hait launched his career in the 1980s, initially as an engineer. He wasa member of the technical staff for AT&T Bell Laboratories and then AT&T Information Systems before becoming an associate for Chemical Bank from 1988 to 1989. A summer intern with RCA throughout his early academic years, he is equipped with a Bachelor of Science in computer science engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of California Berkeley.
As a further testament to his dedication to the field, in 2011, Dr. Hait issued a patent for a computer-implemented method for determining the financial index, implied volatility, for American options. He plans to continue his current work and said he does not anticipate retiring anytime soon.
Marquis Who's Who Honors David Hait for Expertise in Financial Analytics
David Hait is noted for his work in providing his expertise for the equity and index options market to support research
NEW YORK, NY,
July 1, 2024 —
David Hait has been recognized for his inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Hait is a distinguished figure in financial technology, particularly known for his groundbreaking work in options data analysis, trading and econometric research. As the founder and chief executive officer of OptionMetrics in the Greater New York City area since 1999, he has revolutionized how options are studied and traded. Under his leadership, OptionMetrics emerged as a pioneer in calculating volatility and became the gold standard for empirical options research within the academic community. Dr. Hait’s foresight into the importance of options data (in providing insights on markets, equities, ETFs, futures and more) and volatility and the VIX index has positioned his company at the forefront of data-driven trading.
Before establishing OptionMetrics, Dr. Hait contributed his expertise to several prestigious financial institutions. From 1993 to 1997, he was a consultant for JPMorgan, providing valuable insights into financial strategies and risk management. He also consulted for Morgan Stanley in 1996, enhancing his reputation in the finance sector. Dr. Hait’s role as a vice president at PaineWebber from 1990 to 1992 involved overseeing significant projects, and his role as an associate at Chemical Bank between 1988 and 1989 was also instrumental in his success. Among other roles, he was a member of the technical staff at AT&T Information Systems and AT&T Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey, from 1985 to 1987 after completing an ongoing internship during the summer months at RCA between 1980 and 1983.
Possessing a rich educational background, Dr. Hait’s background includes a Bachelor of Science in computer science engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983, a Master of Science in computer science from the University of California Berkeley in 1985, and a Doctor of Philosophy in financial economics from New York University in 1999. He became active in Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu during college. Dr. Hait’s doctoral work shaped his understanding of the equity options market. His dissertation research also notably led to the creation of a valuable dataset for empirical research on options, marking the beginning of OptionMetrics later that year.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hait has been recognized for his various contributions to finance and technology. He has no plans to retire anytime soon. He prefers to continue contributing to the industry, attributing his success thus far to his passion, determination, hard work, and luck.
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