[Past Event] Atlas Global Economic Update Presented By Worth

Bob Diamond Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Merchant Capital Bob Diamond is Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Merchant Capital, a global financial services investment firm with offices in New York and London. Atlas brings its deep operating experience and extensive industry relationships to optimize business and financial performance.  Atlas currently manages investments across the US and Europe through its private equity fund and has recently launched a credit platform focused on sub-investment grade and distressed corporate credit.  Mr. Diamond was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Barclays plc.  Before that he held a variety of senior executive positions at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Diamond holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Colby College in Maine and an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Connecticut and Doctor of Laws from Colby College.

Larry Kantor Operating Partner, Atlas Merchant Capital Mr. Kantor is an Operating Partner at Atlas Merchant Capital and is based in New York. Mr. Kantor is currently a member of the Investment Committee at Betterment, an online wealth management company with AUM of over $30 billion. Previously, Mr. Kantor served as an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow at Harvard University, and prior to that, spent over 10 years as a Managing Director and Head of Research at Barclays Capital. Prior to joining Barclays Capital, Mr. Kantor was the Head of Foreign Exchange Strategy and Chief European Economist at J.P. Morgan. Before J.P. Morgan, he was a Chief Economist and strategist at Normandy Asset Management. Mr. Kantor also served as an Economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. He began his career as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Lehigh University. Mr. Kantor is a member of the boards of Economic Mobility Pathways, a nonprofit that helps low-income families get out and stay out of poverty, and of Ideas42, a nonprofit that uses behavioral science to solve global social problems. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Phi Beta Kappa, from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Economics from Ohio State University.

Jim McCann Chairman, Worth and Chairman & Founder, 1-800-FLOWERS Jim McCann is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, author, media personality and philanthropist whose passion is helping people deliver smiles. Jim’s belief in the universal need for social connections and interaction led to his founding of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., which he has grown into one of the world’s leading floral and gourmet gifting companies. Jim’s willingness to embrace new technologies that enhance customer engagement, such as 800 phone numbers and e-commerce, often long before other retailers, has consistently kept 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. ahead of the curve and positioned it as a leading innovator in the marketplace. These innovations have played a vital role in strengthening customer engagement, something that has always been a key element of Jim’s business philosophy. Jim’s strategy for growth has included an effective combination of birthing and acquiring new businesses and brands that resonate with customers for their gifting and celebratory occasions. The company’s gift offerings include iconic brands such as Harry & David®, Wolferman’s®, Cheryl’s® Cookies and The Popcorn Factory®, as well as Simply Chocolate®, Personalization Universe® and 1-800-Baskets.com®, among others. Jim is also deeply involved in philanthropy and is especially devoted to helping individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes his continued work as Founder and Chairman of Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization established in 2015. Smile Farms provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities, allowing them to master new skills, experience teamwork, contribute to their community and, importantly, take home a paycheck. As a result, Jim was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Long Island Business News 2019 Corporate Citizenship Awards. In 2018, Jim established Clarim Holdings, a private holding company that expands market opportunities for clients by providing capital along with an extensive network of high-tier support partners. Jim also serves as a director for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Amyris and International Game Technology PLC, as well as a variety of private and not-for-profit boards.