Bio

Karen Laureano-Rikardsen is the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. She oversees the integrated communications and marketing function across the entire organization. She is responsible for raising the profile and visibility of Cantor and its affiliates to help meet core business objectives and to enhance and build brand identity/equity with all key stakeholders. Prior to joining Cantor, Ms. Laureano-Rikardsen held various senior communications and marketing roles at financial services firms, including CRT Capital Group, Credit Suisse and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. At CRT Capital, she spearheaded corporate access to equity and fixed income clients, managed all branding and marketing of multi-sector conferences, as well as media and corporate communications, including distressed and special situations. At Credit Suisse, she was Head of Communications for Global Equities, Latin America, and served as the senior lead on crisis communications management. Earlier in her career, she served as Head of Corporate and External Affairs at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, where she developed and implemented its North America communications strategy. Ms. Laureano-Rikardsen earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from the University of Maryland UC in Schwäbisch Gmünd Germany.