John Surdakowski

Avex E-commerce

Leading eCommerce agency providing creative, development, email marketing & strategy for brands such as: Mondelez, Hugo Boss, KITH, O’Neil, HAUS, Undefeated, Marchesa, Balance Athletica, TomBoyX, Wolf & Shepherd, Badgley Mischka & Iconix Brand Group.

Founder & CEO

Agency-X Podcast

Agency X — Hosted by John Surdakowski, is a Podcast that takes a dive deep into the world of ecommerce, digital strategy, and the evolving landscape of marketing technology. From the challenges of building a brand to mastering the latest tools shaping the future of commerce, Agency X offers insights drawn from real experiences at Avex. Each week, we break down what works, what doesn’t, and the bold moves that drive growth for leading brands.

Host

Shogun

Shogun empowers brands and agencies to create unique ecommerce experiences by making it easy to build and optimize online stores. Shogun is seamlessly integrated with leading ecommerce platforms, and is trusted by over 12,000 eCommerce brands, including Leesa mattresses, MVMT watches, Gaiam yoga apparel, K-Swiss, and Chubbies shorts

Investor

GRIN

Grin is the #1 all-in-one influencer marketing platform designed to help brands own their influencer relationships. With our tools in your corner, you’ll build a pool of credible ambassadors and reap the financial and brand rewards that come with it. GRIN puts every aspect of your influencer marketing program at your fingertips, empowering you to own it every step of the way.

Inveterate, Inc

Govalo

Kinn

Consulting

Freelance creative direction, web design and development for various brands and agencies, including Google, Samsung, Havas, JWT, Campfire, USANetwork, Cinemax and Sony

Creative Contractor

Havas

Designed digital experiences such as: websites, mobile ads, video story boards and rich media campaigns.

Sr. Art Director Consultant

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Designed and developed digital campaigns for Estee Lauder’s online creative department.

Art Director Consultant

Founder & CEO at Avex, a New York City based creative, technology and e-commerce agency for fashion & lifestyle brands. 

With 20 years of experience creating for the web, I’ve seen the digital landscape evolve. From Web 1.0 and Flash animation, to the explosion of mobile and e-commerce. I utilize my vast experience in creative, technology and business to help DTC brands achieve rapid growth. 

Throughout the years I've consulted for JWT, Havas, Estee Lauder, BBDO, NBC, MRM Worldwide, Nickelodeon, MTV Networks and many other New York based companies.

In 2015 I started growing my freelance business into a boutique digital agency, with focus on fashion, lifestyle and premium products. 

Avex has partnered with major brands such as: Hugo Boss, KITH, O’Neill, Undefeated, Simmons Serta Bedding, Marchesa, Eugenia Kim, Badgley Mishka, Ports V, Reem Acra, Iconix Brand Group, Google, PONY, Starter, Rocawear, Shutterstock, 88Rising, USANetwork, HBO, UBISoft, Sony Music and many more. 

Today, I continue to act as CEO and Founder (among other titles) of Avex. I’ve applied my experience and ability to adapt to creating a business that I am immensely passionate about. I love working with other creatives, building my team and taking on new challenges.

In 2019 Avex was invited to become a Shopify Plus Partner. Our agency focuses on helping brands navigate eCommerce.

• Americas Head Sales Trader covering a book of bank lending clients ranging from Energy (O&G, P&R), to Healthcare, to Shipping and Offshore.
• Primary point of contact for client’s execution and strategy development for derivative hedging used to mitigate risk and volatility and maximize value using futures, swaps, collars, and various other exotic option structures.
• Grew commodity revenue by 75% since taking over the lead role by broadening the banks product offerings, despite a challenging capital and volatile price environment in addition to multiple strategy shifts.
• Worked with Investment Banking to discover opportunities within our power and renewables client base and other corporate clients with ESG mandates to align the desk with the energy transition. (RECs, PPAs, lithium hedging, power hedging etc)
• Provided clients with up to the minute market color as well as a daily newsletter on what is driving the energy and FX market.
• Weekly Energy and FX update for the New York division heads and client coverage teams(client managers, credit support etc).
• Road shows to enhance client relationships both with and without client managers and in house analysts.
• Client onboarding and documentation including ISDA and Dodd Frank negotiation and various fx platform setup(360t, FXAll...)
• Tasked with recognizing cross selling opportunities in FICC products( Comm, IRS, FX, and MM) to further the banks potential after being nominated for a cross Atlantic leadership committee between the US and CEMEA.

Senior Vice President- FICC Commodities and FX Sales Trader

DNB Markets

• Primary Backup for the Commodity desk covering North and South America.
• Primary Backup FX Spot trader handling all flow for the bank during US hours, including forwards.
• Primary Backup for FX Sales handling client transactions in G10 Currencies.
• Backup Money Market desk meant to arb Fed Funds Facility as well as maintain bank liquidity (CDs, Repos, O/Ns etc.

FICC Sales and Trading VP

Trading Operations Manager
•	Hired, as the first US operations employee, to implement controls and processes for a growing Nordic Equity and High Yield Bond desk.
•	Responsible for daily reconciliation of all trades and P&L.
•	Full trade cycle from booking to settlement to reporting including CAMS, OASYS, OATS, and TRACE.

Associate Vice President

DIAMONDBACK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

In charge of ensuring the continuity of the European and Asian trading desk during live hours.
Responsible for getting locates, resolving breaks, and t+1 trade settlement (swaps, cash, futures, options, converts).
Managed all equity swaps from trade date to termination. Reconciled all give-ups from various brokers to our different accounts as well as all reset and unwind cash flows.
Determined the most efficient and cost effective way to access certain emerging markets while managing FX exposure.
Initiated a more aggressive dividend enhancement swap strategy to receive a higher return on our positions.
Tracked firm participation and profitability of all European IPOs and secondary offerings.

Associate

J.P. Morgan

Equity Finance Sales

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc

Assisted with the transition of the Bear Stearns synthetic equity business (TRS, CFD) to the J.P. Morgan derivative platform, enabling clients to continue doing business.
Worked with legacy Bear Stearns clients and J.P. Morgan Credit and Documentation groups to set new credit terms and undertake documentation remediation. 
Assigned primary coverage of legacy Bear Stearns clients following the departure of the lead synthetic equity salesperson.
 Designated the responsibility of reestablishing relationships with legacy Bear Stearns clients who had left during the disruption, prior to the acquisition by J.P. Morgan.
Supported the London business following the loss of staff (for both US clients looking to trade in European markets and European clients looking to trade in the US).

Bear Stearns & Co. Inc

Provided Sales coverage to hedge funds transacting in synthetic equity products (TRS, options/forwards, custom baskets)
Worked with Prime Brokerage Sales group to offer synthetic equity product capabilities to the broader PB customer base.
Worked with Prime Brokerage Product Development &amp; Technology teams to enhance customer reporting tools.
Responsible for all trade booking and the review of all trade confirmations and documentation, as well as being the primary contact for the Credit and Collateral teams. 
Covered clients and markets in the US, South America, and Europe.

Vice President

Responsible for the daily maintenance of the trading book, including delta/theta risk and P/L. 
Key member of a team responsible for enabling our desk to take on a complicated but profitable structured synthetic equity financing trade and developing a booking platform for it, as well as maintaining all P/L and product control for the trade. 
Integral team member involved in creating and integrating a new STP trading/risk/ticketing system.
Managed a small group responsible for supporting the trading desk and trained several new employees in system applications and daily processes.

Trade input and verification for Structured Equity Products. Covered the Equity Finance, Exotics, Converts, and Vol desks.
Communicated with traders, marketers and middle office to ensure proper inputting/settling of all trades (Interest Swaps, Currency Swaps, Equity Options, Credit Default Swaps, Converts).

taplio

The Battle

John Surdakowski

Sal Vaccaro

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?