Q&A with David Asermely, ValidMind’s new VP – Global Business Development & Growth Strategy

ValidMind recently welcomed its new VP of Global Business Development & Growth Strategy and former SAS executive David Asermely. We recently spoke with David about his unique path from teaching high school science to leading risk strategy at a high-growth AI company—and why joining ValidMind felt like coming full circle.

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Q: You didn’t take a traditional path into financial services. Can you share a bit about that?

David Asermely: I actually started my career as a high school teacher and coach in Massachusetts—environmental science, biology, and anatomy. I loved mentoring and helping students grow. To this day, I think coaching is one of the most meaningful things we can do—those small nudges at the right time can change someone’s entire trajectory.

Later, I started investing my coaching stipends into the stock market, which led me down the rabbit hole of financial analytics. Eventually I joined BNY Mellon, where I spent 14 years evolving from a contractor to Head of Asset Servicing Analytics Product.

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Q: What was the turning point that led you to specialize in model risk?

Asermely: During my time at BNY Mellon, I saw how difficult it was to truly quantify risk in portfolios holding complex derivatives. When the financial crisis hit, those limitations had real consequences for pensioners and retirees—people who had worked their entire lives, only to see part of their savings vanish because of misunderstood exposures. That experience left a mark. I became obsessed with better risk governance and ultimately spent over a decade at SAS helping institutions operationalize model risk management.

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Q: What are you seeing in the market right now — where are the biggest priorities for model risk and AI governance teams?

Model risk teams are being asked to do more—governing models that degrade faster and require more frequent validation—while AI governance teams are trying to thoughtfully bring humans into the loop. These forces are converging: one side needs more automation, the other needs more oversight. ValidMind sits right at the intersection, helping both achieve their goals in a rapidly evolving landscape.

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Q: What drew you to ValidMind specifically?

Asermely: Honestly, I’ve been a fan of the team for years. I met Mehdi, Jonas, and others at model risk conferences, and I was always impressed with their clarity of purpose. They’re building the infrastructure to help banks and other institutions not just manage models—but understand them, validate them, and ensure they align with both business and regulatory goals.

When the opportunity came up, it just felt right. Very few companies are this focused, this fast-moving, and this tuned in to what model validators and AI governance professionals actually need. I knew it was time.

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Q: What are you most excited to tackle in your new role?

Asermely: Two things: First, bringing my experience to help customers implement model governance frameworks that evolve with the dynamic AI landscape. Second, partnering closely with our clients to ensure our roadmap reflects the reality of their challenges.

I’m here to help ValidMind scale without losing the depth and integrity that have made it special.

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Q: On a personal note—what do you like to do outside of work?

Asermely: I live in Cary, North Carolina, and I’m part of a local F3 workout group—we meet at 5:45 am no matter the weather. It’s a great way to stay grounded. I also play basketball, and my two kids are both at UNC—or will be next year. We’re definitely a Tar Heel family, even if my son couldn’t care less about sports!

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Interested in connecting with David to learn more about how ValidMind can help you take your AI governance to the next level? Request a demo today!