Performing with Integrity

Name: Mike Hansen

Position: First Vice President, Market Operations

What made you say “yes” to OCC?

I joined OCC 16 years ago because it was an exciting opportunity to be a part of a new operations facility, in a new city, with a new team, working for an organization that is critical to the stability and integrity of the financial markets. In 2002 we moved our technology and business operations from New York City’s financial district to Keller, Texas in response to the need to geographically diversify our business functions following 9/11. Change is a constant in our industry, so OCC continues to evolve as an organization to meet the needs of exchanges, clearing members and markets participants. One of the best outcomes has been our 2017 move to a brand-new office building in the Cypress Waters area, where we designed fresh and modern work spaces that foster collaboration, team building and a strong connection to our colleagues in our Chicago and Washington D.C. offices.

What can you find at OCC that you can’t find anywhere else?

We are unique. There is no other company like us in the U.S. – OCC is the world’s largest equity derivative clearing organization, and we are a designated Systematically Important Financial Market Utility (SIFMU), as part of the Dodd-Frank legislation. This makes working at OCC a challenge and an opportunity.

What are the benefits to OCC being in the Dallas Region?

One of the greatest benefits to being in the Dallas region is access to a very skilled and diverse workforce. We’re able to hire talented people with varied backgrounds and experiences making OCC a great place to work. Another benefit is that a lot of our partners within the industry have started to expand operations here in Dallas – specifically, Goldman Sachs, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab, so that rising demand for qualified talent is drawing people to the greater Dallas area from across the country, which benefits the entire region.

What does the OCC do to give back to the community?

We’re a proud member of the Dallas Regional Chamber and actively support our colleagues’ participation in its activities, including the DRC’s very popular Annual Women’s Business Conference. We have also hosted Hacker X – the largest invite-only networking & recruiting event for developers which offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet with innovative companies like OCC. In addition, we are involved in supporting a local charity.  A dedicated group of colleagues in each office are responsible for organizing charity events to grow our community engagement. In 2018, our 200-person Dallas team raised more than $45,000, setting a record that is a testament to our commitment to making a difference in the communities where we live and work.

If you could describe OCC in one word, what would it be?

There are several words, but if there was just one word, I would look to our mission statement, and the one word I would pull out of that mission statement would be “integrity”. OCC provides effective and efficient clearance, settlement and risk management to the financial markets.  Our exchanges, clearing members, our regulators, and even the public relies upon OCC to perform these tasks with integrity daily.