Meet Our Team of Exchange Technology Innovators
Jim Downs
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Jim Downs
Co-Founder and Chief Executive OfficerJim founded Connamara Technologies, Inc. with a focus on scaling EP3, our exchange platform and matching engine. EP3 encapsulates Jim’s extensive knowledge and experience from decades of delivering capital markets software solutions and trading on the floors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. Jim graduated from Purdue University, earning a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering.
Maureen Downs
Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer
Maureen Downs
Co-Founder and Chief Financial OfficerMaureen co-founded Connamara Technologies, Inc., where she serves on the board and as the Chief Financial Officer. She is a respected capital markets veteran with broad industry experience in derivative financial instruments and financial technology, including leadership roles at brokerages, trading firms, regulatory bodies, and trade associations. Maureen currently serves as Chair of the National Futures Association. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from Northwestern University Law School.
Kirk Kozel
Chief Operating Officer
Kirk Kozel
Chief Operating OfficerKirk manages the day-to-day operations at Connamara Technologies and oversees critical areas of the business such as engineering, product support, professional services, and most importantly, growing our team. Prior to his role at Connamara Tech, Kirk was the Chief Talent Officer at Connamara Systems, among other positions. Kirk earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering & Computer Science from the University of Michigan, where he also played lacrosse.
Daniel Davis
Head of Growth
Daniel Davis
Head of GrowthDan leads the sales and marketing efforts at Connamara Technologies. Prior to joining Connamara Tech, Dan was a director at a B2B SaaS company, working directly with its employees, executive team, board, and private equity partner to implement its strategic programs. Prior, Dan helped PIMCO grow its new office in Austin, Texas – with roles in the strategy and sales groups. Dan graduated from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, where he captained the football team.
Grant Smith
Product Owner
Grant Smith
Product OwnerAs a product owner Grant is tasked with delivering exceptional software for Connamara’s clients; including project management, defining our product roadmap, and providing meaningful business analysis. Prior to his role as Product Owner, Grant was a Senior Business Analyst at Connamara Systems. Grant graduated summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in economics.
Matt Lane
Director of Professional Services
Matt Lane
Director of Professional ServicesMatt leads the professional services group within Connamara Technologies, combining his engineering experience and client knowledge to provide clarity to exchange operators trying to achieve their vision. Prior to joining Connamara Tech, Matt was the Director of Technology at DigitalMint. He graduated from Purdue with a degree in Computer Science, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Tim Banks
Client Engagement Manager
Tim Banks
Client Engagement ManagerAs the head of client engagement for Connamara Technologies, Tim is responsible for the client support and success functions. In his decades of capital markets experience before joining Connamara Tech, Tim held senior roles at both large investment banks and small proprietary trading shops, supporting internal stakeholders by developing software solutions. Tim has a BA and an MS in Computer Science from Knox College and Northwestern University, respectively.
John Vatianou
Director of Information Security
John Vatianou
Director of Information SecurityJohn serves as the CISO for Connamara Technologies. He has 15 years of experience leading development teams. John is responsible for managing all company controls for security, incident response, business continuity and disaster recovery, secure system development, and other information security areas within the business. John launched and manages Connamara’s SOC 2 compliance. John graduated from Aurora University and holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from DePaul University.
Capitalize On Every Opportunity Earlier
Let us show you how our advanced exchange platform and matching engine propel your organization to the front of the trading race.