Witad Awards 2018 Write-Ups: Consultant of the Year—Cristina Mures, CJC Ltd

Since joining CJC’s commercial management team in 2012, which manages the firm’s end-to-end solution for market data services, Mures has been involved in the creation of innovative methodologies to implement cost-saving initiatives for customers. She achieved a 35 percent saving in market data spend during the fiscal year at one of CJC’s clients.

Mures has the ability to optimize a client’s market data costs and improve transparency. At one firm, for example, she identified a lack of intelligence around exchange data usage and implemented a strategy to locate and cancel unused data sources. By optimizing the information in the inventory around the terminal real estate, she was able to improve clarity for management on how budgets were being tracked and consumed.

She says she is fortunate to have had a number of people who have influenced and mentored her during her career. “I’m more than grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way, from managers who have seen potential, given me a chance to prove myself and helped me develop core skills, to family members who have always encouraged me and previous colleagues who have become close friends and have been generous with their time, allowing me to validate ideas, exchange views and discuss industry topics.” 

While the capital markets is a male-dominated industry, Mures has never viewed it as a battle drawn along gender lines. She believes that success is gender-neutral. “Whether you’re male or female, you have to be capable and work hard. I can only speak about my own experiences, but I have never felt that being a woman has held me back in my career,” she says.

Her advice to others is to be confident but to never pretend to know the answers. “Acknowledge your mistakes and never be ashamed to hold your hand up and ask questions,” she says. 

Outside of her professional life, Mures is passionate about animals and their welfare. She would one day love the opportunity to work with animals either in a caring capacity or through fundraising for charity.