Systematic3 Search: Precision Hiring for Finance and Technology

Christopher is a Co-Founder of Systematic3 and leads the firm’s Executive Search pillar. Prior to co-founding Systematic3, Christopher worked with Options Group for a combined period of 10 years and was most recently the former Head of Options Group’s EMEA Asset Management practice and part of the global management committee. Chris has been a leading practitioner and subject matter expert with a committed long-term focus on all aspects of Investment Management. Chris has developed a loyal and committed following of retained blue chip financial institutions. Because of Chris’s deep and daily contacts within the industry, he is able to know exactly what is happening today at each firm. Chris has partnered closely with senior-level management and founders, advising on all aspects of recruitment and strategic advisory. In this regard, he has been instrumental in providing key insight on all issues relating to executive assessment, on-boarding, inclusion and diversity. As head of Systematic3 Executive Search pillar Chris works closely with our research and strategy division, SerdiQa, to deliver clients bespoke competitive intelligence and human capital advisory. In addition to recruitment, Chris and his team provide competitive intelligence scans, management and cultural assessments, benchmarking, market sentiment analysis and compensation analytics. In sourcing top level talent Chris is able to quickly deliver the big picture to the firm’s clients. His framework is one that fosters learning and creativity in sourcing talent and demonstrates that the right answers begin with the right approach. It is built on flexibility and a systematic and proven process together the right intelligence as well as to adapt to new situations quickly. Prior to joining Options Group, Christopher founded Buyside Resources Executive Search and Strategic Advisory which supported the growth efforts of the Asset Management community. Chris worked for a year at Neal Management, a financial executive search and consultancy boutique in New York and prior worked in media with HBO, a part of Time Warner. Chris received an Executive Master's Degree in International Management and European Relations from the University of Amsterdam (ASIR) (2000). He also holds a Master’s Degree in Media Ecology and Communications from New York University (1998) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and History from Clark University in Massachusetts (1992).

Manuella is a Co-Founder and Head of Studios at Systematic3. She is a French buy-side quant specialist and tech headhunter with a truly international footprint, partnering with leading players in the global trading space as well as a renowned self-driving car company in Silicon Valley. Recognised for her ability to identify rare talent that firms struggle to find, she has built a career within both FTSE 250 and Wall Street firms. Having lived and worked in six countries, Manuella brings a global perspective and is fluent in French, English, and Spanish. She also draws on her background in e-commerce, marketing, branding, and design, and, as Head of Studio, she combines strategic and creative expertise to shape the firm’s identity and voice. Beyond search, Manuella is passionate about well-being and a strong advocate for kinder, more human workplaces. In her free time, she loves discovering new Spanish and Greek restaurants, practicing Pilates Reformer and Yin Yoga at her London studio, and taking long walks - often reaching 20,000 steps a day across the city. She also published her first novel under a pen name, which performed strongly on Kindle US.

Edoardo Bellassai is a market researcher and talent management professional based in Amsterdam, with a proven track record in financial services, compliance, and strategic market intelligence. He has worked with leading organizations including Adyen and bunq, delivering insights on high-value transactions, fraud prevention, ESG performance, and market opportunities across sectors such as fintech, energy, and luxury goods. With expertise in data analysis, market research, and financial risk assessment, Edoardo has supported both high-performance corporate teams and consultancy projects, producing actionable intelligence that drives decision-making. His work has ranged from investigating suspicious financial activity in the luxury sector to delivering ESG performance insights for oil and gas majors, contributing research featured at the World Economic Forum 2024. Previously, Edoardo worked as an analyst at Options Group, supporting EMEA financial services clients through targeted business intelligence, sector mapping, and strategic research. He now applies his combined analytical, investigative, and market strategy skills to executive search in the financial services sector, connecting top talent with high-impact roles. Edoardo holds a Master’s degree in International Public Management and Policy from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a BA in Business Studies from the University of Manchester. Fluent in multiple languages and adept at navigating cross-cultural business environments, he bridges analytical rigor with people-focused talent strategy.

Stella is an International Executive Search Consultant with global experience, having worked in Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the United States. She is an outgoing and detail-oriented professional passionate about achieving targeted goals and delivering high-quality service. Currently part of Mondelez, where she supports the transformation of senior leadership across ex-Chipita manufacturing facilities in South Central Europe, Stella also acts as a Senior Advisor to Systematic3, bringing her global expertise and perspective to our team. Previously, she served as Head of Research at JordanSheppard, a global executive search firm that helps clients find the best talent and solutions for their business needs and challenges. With over 13 years of experience in this field, Stella holds a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and is finishing her Master's degree in Management and Development of Human Resources. She has led global research teams supporting consultants in projects such as competitive landscape analysis, succession planning, and talent and organizational design benchmarking. She has a proven track record of building and maintaining strong customer relationships, applying HR and CRM best practices, and providing high-quality consulting services. Stella is passionate about delivering senior up to C-level assignments for companies from Fortune 500 to Fortune 10, across continents and industries.

Alex is an experienced executive search consultant specializing in senior leadership positions within the automotive, manufacturing, chemicals, industrial automation, and oil & gas sectors. Nearly six years of experience at a globally operating executive search firm, involved in retained search assignments, market intelligence, and benchmarking projects for leading multinational corporations. Alex’s expertise includes identifying and engaging high-calibre executives across corporate functions such as Finance, IT, HR, Engineering, and Supply Chain, ranging from Director-level to C-suite roles. Managing the end-to-end executive search process, from candidate identification and contact, through in-depth qualification and presentation to clients, to overseeing interview processes, expectation management, and final offer negotiations. Worked on placements across EMEA, North America, and Asia Pacific.

Okke serves as a Senior Advisor to Systematic 3 Executive Search, leveraging his extensive expertise in technology, innovation, and executive leadership to guide the firm's strategic initiatives in talent acquisition for financial services and fintech sectors. His insights support the integration of cutting-edge digital strategies across Systematic 3's pillars, including Executive Search, Labs, and Studios, fostering innovative approaches to career development, market intelligence, and thought leadership. Concurrently, Okke is the Group CIO/COO at Aurelius global, where he oversees start-up activities, M&A due diligence frameworks, enterprise architecture for healthcare assets, portfolio optimization, and innovation initiatives. Prior to joining Aurelius in 2022, he held senior international roles in technology and business management at leading institutions such as ING Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, and Royal Bank of Scotland, spanning retail, private, and investment banking operations. He also served as a Partner at Stalhmarg and Aurelius, investment management and advisory firms focused on health insurance, healthcare, business services, and financial services, and managed his own consulting firm, Samudra BV, providing advisory, change, and program management services. As a seasoned international executive, Okke brings a proven track record in technology, design, innovation, business, and change management. He has led multidisciplinary, multicultural high-performance teams across geographies, delivering complex projects in strategy, governance, organizational design, post-merger integration, technology applications and infrastructure, innovation, sourcing, and compliance. Okke holds a BSc in Electrical and Computer Sciences from IHBO Alkmaar and an MSc in Technology & Society from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Todor is a Co-Founder & Head of Labs at Systematic3. With nearly a decade of experience in executive search, he has built a reputation for sharp insight at the intersection of financial services and technology. He specializes in trading, quantitative and engineering talent, partnering with hedge funds, market makers, asset managers, (fin)techs and investment banks to connect them with the 0.001% of talent. Previously at Options Group, he built investment, quant, and technology teams for some of the world’s leading financial institutions. Over the years, he honed the ability to decode hiring patterns, reverse-engineer team structures, and anticipate where capital, talent and innovation converge. Today, he leads Labs at Systematic3, blending his executive search expertise with an entrepreneurial background in e-commerce and real estate. This combination of commercial instinct, market intelligence and negotiation experience enables him to innovate and translate complex signals into strategy.