‘Operations is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Function’

Peter D’Onofrio at Neuberger Berman says investment operations is becoming increasingly customized as the needs of clients, products, and reporting rapidly diverge.

(Peter D’Onofrio, CAIA, SVP, chief administrative officer, Global Institutional Client Group at Neuberger Berman, says that one of the biggest industry challenges that he and his team face are the great expectations for “faster, more customized reporting” that also preserves data integrity and consistency across channels. Overall, investment operations has ceased to be a one-size-fits-all function as clients, products, and reporting requirements increasingly require customized approaches. D’Onofrio will get the chance to dive into these issues as part of the PMCR 2026 panel discussion “Crisis Management: When Performance, Reporting, and Client Relations Collide.” The session is relevant for today’s investment operations landscape especially when a performance challenge becomes “reporting pressure and difficult client conversations.” A clear playbook for such situations has become a necessity, he adds.)

Professional Background & Expertise

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your role and what your day-to-day looks like at Neuberger Berman?

A: I’m the chief administrative officer (CAO) of the Global Institutional Client Group (ICG), with a focus on business management, institutional initiatives, and leadership responsibilities. Business management encompasses all facets of sales planning, collaboration with sales and investment teams, and the development and oversight of data infrastructure to support the business.

My institutional initiatives include expanded responsibilities to coordinate private market fundraising efforts across ICG, driving clear, concise, and effective communication and reporting. I partner with sales management to restructure and optimize territories in North America, and I assess Neuberger’s market share of the largest allocators across client segments and regions.

I also collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data quality and infrastructure for improved business management. My leadership and management responsibilities include day-to-day management of 22 client associates and analysts focused on developing client-facing professionals.

Q: What’s a recent project or initiative your team has worked on that has made the biggest impact for your organization?

A: Campaign analytics: holistic reporting on the fundraising life-cycle progression of all targets for flagship private market strategies.

Top allocators analysis: an in-depth review of NB’s market share among the top100 allocators across client segments, regionally, and globally.

Q: What is your dream project?

A: The development of client-facing professionals.

Session Insights

Q: What inspired you to participate in PMCR 2026 and help out with the “Crisis Management: When Performance, Reporting, and Client Relations Collide” session?

A: We have all seen how quickly a performance challenge can cascade into reporting pressure and difficult client conversations, and how important it is to have a clear playbook before you’re in the middle of it.

Q: What do you think makes "Crisis Management: When Performance, Reporting, and Client Relations Collide" especially relevant for today’s investment operations landscape?

A: It’s especially relevant today because investment operations is no longer a one-size-fits-all function — clients, products, and reporting requirements are increasingly bespoke.

Industry Challenges & Trends

Q: What’s one of the biggest challenges your team or clients are facing right now? Can you fill us in on how you are approaching it?

A: One of the biggest challenges right now is meeting rising expectations for faster, more customized reporting — without sacrificing data integrity or consistency across channels.

Q: How do you foresee technology (A.I., blockchains, digital assets, automation, data analytics, etc.) reshaping your area of expertise over the next year or two? Any major shifts you are preparing for?

A: Over the next 12-to-24 months, I expect the biggest impact to come from how quickly we can turn complex data into accurate, client-ready answers. The major shift is toward exception-driven, automated operations where people spend less time producing reports and more time validating outliers and managing client-specific nuance.

The PMCR Experience

Q: What are you most excited about learning at PMCR?

A: Solutions and advancements from my peers.

Q: What do you hope attendees walk away with after hearing your session?

A: You are not alone; we all face similar challenges.

Getting to Know You

Q: What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

A: I spent my entire career at Neuberger Berman and yes, it is over 21 years!

Q: What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received (or would share)?

A: Patience is one of the most underrated career advantages. Progress rarely moves in a straight line — skills compound quietly, credibility is earned over time, and the right opportunities often arrive only after sustained effort.