Jonathan Bloom, Penserra’s Director of Wholesale Trading, comes from a long line of prominent family members who played a vital role shaping the Chicago trading community. A magnetic figure in the firm’s Cheevers Division, Jonathan epitomizes the division’s professional can-do work ethic of providing superior service to their institutional clients. He also knows where to find a really good steak in Chicago.

Q. You graduated from the University of Iowa in 1985. How did you end up working on the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange?

A. My father, who started his career on the then Midwest Stock Exchange in 1956, was starting a new venture and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I have been here ever since.

Q. You’ve spent over three decades witnessing the evolution of the Chicago trading community. What factors helped you to not only survive but thrive during this transformative process?

A. I think my longevity is a result of my work ethic…I showed up. I can also attribute my success to my ability to network. I continued to adapt to a dynamic industry.

Q. You previously worked for a direct competitor of Penserra’s Cheevers Division. Given your experience, how does Penserra compare versus the competition when it comes to servicing institutional clients?

A. There is no comparison. Cheevers was, and is, the industry leader. Now that I am here, I can tell you the people are the key to the success.

Q. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) completed their acquisition of the Chicago Stock Exchange in 2018. How do you believe the Chicago Stock Exchange has positioned itself for the future?

A. It is not clear what direction the ICE will take the CHX. They are saying all the right things. What I do know is that the Cheevers team has done a significant amount of planning and preparation to prepare us to deal with any changes that develop as a result of the merger.

Q. If you had to choose a Chicago steakhouse for your last meal, which one would it be?

A. What a great question. With all the great choices you would think I would have had to give this some thought. But that isn’t the case. In my opinion, the best steak in town can be found at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.