Vincent Viola

Vincent Viola
Born 1956 (age 59–60)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Residence New York City, New York, United States
Alma mater United States Military Academy
New York Law School
Occupation Founder, Virtu Financial
Owner of the Florida Panthers NHL ice hockey franchise
Net worth $2.2 billion (September 2015)[1]
Spouse(s) Teresa Viola
Children 3

Vincent "Vinnie" Viola (born 1956)[2] is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He is the former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). He is the chairman of Virtu Financial.[3] Viola is the owner of the Florida Panthers, a National Hockey League (NHL) ice hockey franchise based in Sunrise, Florida.[4]

Early Life

Viola was born into an Italian American family in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.[2] His father, an immigrant from Italy, worked as a truck driver, after serving in the U.S. Army in the European theater of WWII. His father’s Army service made a significant impression on Viola as a youth.[5] Upon graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School, Viola attended the United States Military Academy.[5] At West Point, Viola played on the sprint football team and was cadet company commander for Company A-4 his senior year.

Education

Viola graduated with a bachelor's of science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1977, and earned his juris doctor degree from New York Law School, graduating in 1983.[1]

Military Service

Viola was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1977. After graduating from the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, he reported to duty with the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell.[6] After leaving active duty, Viola remained in the U.S. Army Reserves, rising to the rank of major. [7] Viola has remained actively engaged with national security issues.[8]

Career

Viola began his business career as a trader in the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) in 1982. He helped build the NYMEX while he served on the board of directors, as chairman of the Technology Committee, the Natural Gas Advisory Committee and the Facilities Committee, co-chairman of the Options Committee, vice chairman of NYMEX from 1993 to 1996 and chairman from March 2001 to March 2004.[9] During Viola’s tenure as chairman, he oversaw numerous competitive initiatives, including an over-the-counter clearing mechanism – the “Clear Port” platform – the exchange for swaps products and trading at settlement. He was awarded a special service medal for his leadership of NYMEX during September 11th.[10]

Viola has launched a number of businesses during his career. In 1987, he founded Pioneer Futures, one of the top fifty futures commission merchants in the US. In 1988, he founded The Independent Bank Group, a Texas-based regional bank which is listed on NASDAQ (IBTX).[9] In 2008, Viola founded Virtu Financial, active in electronic market making.[11] Viola took Virtu Financial public in April 2015, trading as a NASDAQ listed company (VIRT).[12]

As of September 2015, Viola had a net worth of $2.2 billion.[1]

Philanthropy

Viola has been a philanthropist in the areas of education, national security, and faith. After the 9/11 attacks, he founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.[13] Viola has created a technology company, Rowan Technology Solutions, to support cadet education in the areas of military history, military science, and leadership.[14] He has also been instrumental in supporting the Army Cyber Institute, the Modern War Institute, and Army athletics.[15] Viola has endowed the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Chair in Catholic Theology at Fordham University.[16]

Personal life

Viola and his wife Teresa have three adult sons, and live in New York City.[1][2] In 2013, their Upper East Side townhouse was listed for sale at $114 million, and Variety described it as "turgidly ornamented and giddily gaudy in its unrestrained grandiosity".[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Vincent Viola". Forbes. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "New York businessman leading group purchasing Florida Panthers". Miami Herald. September 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Vincent Viola, Founder and Executive Chairman, Virtu Financial". Vbprofiles.com. 2001-09-11. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  4. ↑ "Vincent Viola Becomes Owner Of The Florida Panthers" (Press release). Florida Panthers. September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "OralHistory". Westpointcoh.org. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  6. ↑ "Who is Vincent Viola?". NetsDaily.com. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  7. ↑ "Vincent Viola | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point". Ctc.usma.edu. 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  8. ↑
  9. 1 2 Vincent J. Viola. "Vincent J. Viola: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Matthew Leising (2016-08-11). "Virtu Never Loses (Well, Almost Never) in Quest to Upend Markets". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  12. ↑ "Virtu Financial Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering (NASDAQ:VIRT)". Ir.virtu.com. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  13. ↑ "Vincent Viola | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point". Ctc.usma.edu. 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  14. ↑ Katie Kramer (2014-11-09). "How West Point is becoming a proving ground for technology". Cnbc.com. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  15. ↑ "Army Cyber Institute - Advisory_Board". Westpoint.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  16. ↑ "Chair Honors a Theological Giant". News.fordham.edu. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  17. ↑ David, Mark (December 16, 2013). "Epic and Epically Opulent Manhattan Townhouse Listed for $114+ Million". Variety.
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