Alexander Batchvarov, '92/'93 MBA

Alumni profile

MONICA WEGNER

my

Alberta

moment

Alexander Batchvarov, ’92/’93 MBA, knew little about Alberta when he hosted a

A L E X A NDER B A T C H VA R O V

small get-together for a visiting friend attending

Johns Hopkins University

and her Canadian boyfriend, in his native Bulgaria. in Baltimore,

M

uch of the conversation circled around Alexander’s acceptance to Johns Hopkins where he hoped to continue his studies at a leading American university. With a PhD in International Economics from the National Academy of Sciences in Bulgaria, his options were many. However, as fate would have it, his application encountered visa difficulties and was ultimately denied.

The down-side? You are only as good as your last deal.

The hardest thing? Firing capable people.

Why he has lasted? Client demand.

He attributes his longevity in part TO: Alexander and Alastair in Scotland

While exploring alternatives, he one day received a surprise phone call from someone with the University of Alberta – an eloquent and soft-spoken man named Sandy Mactaggart.

As it happened, although not known to Alexander, the very distinguished Mr. Mactaggart was both the Chancellor of the University of Alberta as well as the father of his friend’s Canadian boyfriend, and could be very persuasive.

Alex would arrive in Edmonton in late August, was warmly welcomed by his friend’s Canadian boyfriend, Alastair, and was promptly given a generous loan with the proviso to pay it back when you can; and indeed he did, in 1997. He fondly remembers the seventh floor of Lister Hall. “A great floor,” he recalls with a smile, “adding it was also the nurse’s floor.” Other memories include great classmates - including his three fellow Europeans one from Germany, and two from the Netherlands - and the great teaching.

And while he considers himself a classmate of the MBA Class of 1992 - his transcript reads 1993 as again facing visa issues, he purposefully did not fare well in one class, and his graduation was delayed. But, as luck would have it, the extra year allowed him to complete his last course, teach a few courses in Real Estate Economics for Professor Stuart McFadyen, and buy good shoes for his eventual New York interview with Citibank. He still has these $200 Holt Renfrew shoes and identifies them as a start to a most rewarding career, which has spanned all continents and included stints at Citibank, Moody’s, ABS Group, and finally Merrill Lynch, which will simply not let a most valuable asset go.

Alexander has served as Merrill Lynch’s head of International Structured Product Research since 1997, was promoted to sole head of Global Structured Finance Research in 2007, and has continued on in that capacity after the merger with the Bank of America in late 2008. Based in London and Tokyo, the group provides leading-edge research on securitization and structured finance to global institutional investors.

In reflecting on his career he begins easily by saying it’s all about the people; it’s all about the team. Alexander’s team publishes a number of regular award-winning publications which provide in-depth analysis of market developments, and suggest relative value opportunities for areas including commercial real estate, bonds, securities, and loans.

• t hese client relationships, who seem to like his contrarian/ uncensored approach; • living in London, where people are not afraid to speak their minds; and • the opportunity to continually learn and stretch his knowledge base.

Logging 90 hour work weeks and often travelling half the year, Alexander clearly loves the thrill of discovery, of not knowing what could be around the corner, of what he might learn. An appreciation for the education he has received that has provided him with these opportunities is also never far from his mind.

As for what ALEXANDER does to relax?

• near daily early-morning sessions with a nasty trainer; • long week-ends, when markets are closed, allow him to take in four to five theatre productions or opera; and • summers might find him enjoying his parent’s destination mountain retreat – Villa Gella - in Bulgaria, enjoying their bi-annual trip to India for a yoga retreat, or spending time with his second family - the Mactaggarts - at their family reunions in Scotland.

Villa Gella - Bulgaria

And hopefully the fall will find him back in Edmonton at another reunion, as it is the 20th anniversary of the MBA Class of 1992. Alex last visited in 2002 for the 10th anniversary. No pressure Alex – you can always come home to Alberta!