David K. Whitcomb

David Whitcomb is Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Automated Trading Desk, LLC, the pioneer high frequency trading firm. ATD was sold to Citigroup in 2007 and at the time of its sale accounted for 7% of all volume on the NYSE & NASDAQ Stock Markets.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Economics (With Highest Distinction) from Babson College in 1963 and a PhD (With Distinction, Friedman Prize) from Columbia University in 1968. After research/faculty positions at the RAND Corporation, NYU & City University of New York, he joined Rutgers University in 1975 and retired as Professor of Finance Emeritus in 1999. One of the first researchers in the microstructure of securities markets, he has published in all the major finance & economics journals and is listed among the Top 100 researchers in financial economics (1974-1998). His business honors include Entrepreneur of the Year (Regional winner for the Carolinas) and Outstanding Financial Executive (Financial Management Association).

He and his wife and reside in New York City and Honolulu. They are active in charitable endeavors in both places, especially in connection with the Whitcomb Center for Research in Financial Services (Rutgers Univ.) and the Honolulu Museum of Art.