Junior Achievement of New York Expands Board with Fall 2024 Appointments

New York, NY (November 5, 2024) – Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York), a leader in youth financial literacy and career readiness, is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished professionals to its Board of Directors: Vincent Costa, Ajit Sequeira, and Nancy Becker. These new board members bring a wealth of experience in finance, investment management, and risk expertise, furthering JA New York’s mission to empower the next generation of leaders.

Nancy Becker, Managing Director and Head of Loan Syndications for the Fund Finance Group at Wells Fargo, joins the board, bringing her expertise in structuring and distributing credit facilities for private equity funds. Becker has held leadership roles at Credit Suisse and WestLB, making her an accomplished leader in asset-backed securitization and loan syndications. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola University and is a CFA® Charterholder. Becker’s insights into financial structuring and her experience working with large global financial institutions will be instrumental in guiding JA New York’s initiatives to enhance youth understanding of complex financial systems.

Vincent Costa, Chief Investment Officer of Equities at Voya Investment Management, joins the board with decades of experience in the investment management industry. In his current role, Costa also serves as a portfolio manager for active quantitative and fundamental large-cap value strategies. Before his time at Voya, Costa held positions at Merrill Lynch Investment Management and Bankers Trust Company, where he managed quantitative equity investments. He holds an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BS in quantitative business analysis from Pennsylvania State University. Costa is also a CFA® Charterholder. His deep expertise in finance and quantitative analysis will be invaluable as JA New York continues to expand its educational programs aimed at building financial literacy and career readiness for students across the region.

Ajit Sequeira, Global Head of Wealth Controls at Citigroup, brings 30 years of global financial services expertise to the JA New York board. A visionary leader known for driving strategic transformations, Sequeira has delivered multibillion-dollar improvements at both Citigroup and American Express. His work spans business optimization, risk management, and organizational transformation, with significant success in markets such as Mexico, China, India, and Poland. Sequeira is a CFA® Charterholder, a Fellow Chartered Accountant and holds an Executive MBA from Kellogg Northwestern. He has had a long association with JA New York, first volunteering in 2005. Sequeira’s leadership in driving change and his commitment to fostering a global perspective will provide JA New York with unique insights as the organization continues its work in empowering youth with the skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nancy, Vincent, and Ajit to our Board of Directors,” said Betty Garger, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of New York. “Their vast experiences in finance, investment management, and strategic business transformation will be critical as we continue to expand our impact and reach in preparing young people to thrive in today’s economy.”

The addition of these talented leaders highlights JA New York’s ongoing dedication to equipping young people with the financial literacy and career skills they need to thrive in today’s world.

About JA New York

Junior Achievement of New York (JA New York), an affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, is the leading non-profit organization in Greater New York dedicated to creating pathways to economic empowerment for local youth. With a mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy, JA New York provides experiential, interactive programs that teach and inspire young people to understand the economic world around them, plan for their financial futures, and reach their full potential.

For more information about JA New York, visit newyork.ja.org.

CONTACT:

Alisha Mikluch

Junior Achievement of New York

amikluch@jany.org