Lauralyn Pestritto

Lauralyn Pestritto is Managing Director and Head of Counterparty Risk, Operational Risk, and Trading Documentation at AQR Capital Management, based in Westport, Connecticut. In this senior leadership role, she oversees the firm's assessment and management of counterparty risk, supervises operational risk frameworks, and leads the trading documentation process for AQR's diverse investment activities. Her responsibilities are critical to ensuring robust risk controls and maintaining compliance across complex trading and investment operations at this prominent quantitative investment firm.

Pestritto's career spans over three decades in financial risk management, with previous positions including Vice President of Credit Risk Management at Amaranth Group, Credit Analyst roles at AIG Trading Group and UBS, and early career experience at Salomon Smith Barney and Skadden, Arps. Her primary expertise is in credit, counterparty, and operational risk, specifically within hedge funds, derivatives trading, and complex investment products—sectors where risk assessment and mitigation are paramount.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Politics from Gettysburg College and an MBA from ESADE Business School in Spain. Notable achievements include building and leading AQR's counterparty risk and trading documentation teams during periods of significant market evolution, helping the firm navigate regulatory changes and manage risks across multi-asset investment strategies.