Dirk Pruis, President and CEO of EquiLend, said he will retire from the financial services industry to return to his alma matter.
Pruis will step down as EquiLend chief in August to pursue the long-time goal of giving back to his alma mater, Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he will serve as Vice President of Advancement.
“This has been a life-long goal of mine,” Dirk Pruis comments. “Being able to build and nurture something to a point that I can confidently leave in order to pursue my own personal goals brings me tremendous satisfaction. If it weren’t for EquiLend’s consistent success, its people, the board and its clients, this could not have been possible.”
Pruis was appointed in April of 2002 after actively participating in the formation and development of EquiLend during the company’s incubation period. Pruis moved to the position of CEO after spending nine years at Goldman Sachs.
During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Pruis oversaw multiple technology initiatives, served as the controller of the Tokyo office, co-manager of the Partners’ Capital Group, director of finance and administration in the Mexico City office, and manager of US regulatory reporting. Pruis was instrumental in EquiLend’s formation and drove industry initiatives that benefited the global securities industry.
EquiLend is currently in the process of selecting a successor. Mike Vardas, Chair of the Board of EquiLend states said in a press release that “candidates are currently being evaluated, but a decision has not been made.”