Russell L. Stein joined Intellectual Ventures as executive vice president and chief financial officer, bringing with him 19 years of experience at financial institutions including Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. In his role as chief financial officer, Mr. Stein is responsible for directing the company’s financial strategy and overseeing investor relations.

Prior to joining Intellectual Ventures, Mr. Stein was president and chief executive officer of Community USA Holdco Inc., a banking asset investment start-up. Prior to that, Mr. Stein spent 15 years at Merrill Lynch, beginning in fixed incomes derivatives trading and progressing to various leadership positions including managing director and head of global corporate finance for the investment banking division; global treasurer and head of investor relations; head of corporate finance for financial institutions; and, most recently, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch Bank USA where he led the turnaround in the heart of the financial crisis. Mr. Stein served on the board of Merrill Lynch Bank and Trust, FSB, including the First Republic Bank division, from 2007 to 2009. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Mr. Stein worked in real estate investment banking at Morgan Stanley.

Mr. Stein is the recipient of a number of finance industry awards: Treasury and Risk’s Alexander Hamilton Award for overall treasury excellence in 2005; Treasury and Risk’s Top 40 Under 40 Award in 2005; Investment Dealers’ Digest’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2006; and Treasury and Risk’s 100 Most Influential People in Finance in 2006. He held the position of senior leader of the Treasury Leadership Roundtable for Corporate Executive Board (CEB) from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Stein also holds a number of patents and patent applications, most of which are for financial products.

Mr. Stein received his bachelor’s degree in international relations with concentrations in economics and Near East studies from Johns Hopkins University. He received his master’s degree in international relations with concentrations in economics and Middle East studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., where he was awarded the Meyerhoff Fellowship for research abroad and the Lucius D. Battle Fellowship for outstanding achievement.