Simone Villa

Simone Villa is a leading figure in quantitative investing and financial technology, recognized for his ability to bridge cutting-hedge quantitative research with top-notch enterprise technology.

He currently serves as Executive Director and Head of Technology for the top-tier Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) team at LGT Capital Partners, a position he has held since January 2015, where he has been instrumental in building the team's foundational capabilities that continue to underpin its sustained success. Before joining LGT Capital Partners, Simone held leadership roles at Swiss-based Saint George Capital Management, where he led the Risk Management and Quantitative Analysis function and contributed to the development of advanced machine learning models and sophisticated risk frameworks. Earlier, he worked as Analyst and gained hands‑on investment and risk experience at Polaris Investment Italia SGR and Pioneer Investments in Milan, operating on the front lines during the Global Financial Crisis and helping teams navigate its unprecedented market stresses.

Simone's academic background is equally distinguished. He holds a dual‑degree Executive MBA (EMBA) in Business Administration, Technology, and Leadership from ETH Zürich and the University of St. Gallen, Europe's most relevant EMBA. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Science (MSc), and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science from the renowned University of Milano‑Bicocca, specializing in a highly selective track in artificial intelligence and decision‑making under uncertainty. His formative years were shaped at the Salesiani Institute in Sesto San Giovanni, a distinguished Catholic private school in Italy with a long-standing tradition of educational excellence, where he earned a Computer Science diploma and cultivated both technical skill and strong values.