DRW's low-latency network pioneer is leaving after 18 years

21 March 2025

2 minute read

Don Wilson may have been a pioneer for financial modelling, but his firm trading firm DRW didn't really lead in the low-latency space until the acquisition of Montreal-based event-driven prop-trading firm Vigilant in 2013. Now, one of the firm's founders and a DRW partner is in the process of moving on.

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Eric Bellerive was a founder of Vigilant back in 2007 and played a vital role in building out its low-latency infrastructure, with a particular specialism in ultra-fast wireless networks. Since the acquisition, Bellerive has headed DRW NX, the firm's global technological research centre based out of Montreal. DRW confirmed to eFinancialCareers that he is transitioning out.

DRW advertises the NX team as having "the fastest network in the world." Bellerive once lobbied to build a 320m radio mast in Kent, England, to transmit unobstructed signals to Europe. The plans were, however, rejected by local residents. DRW has been offering the NX team's low-latency solutions to the market since 2017. The team also works on low-latency connectivity services for crypto, which the firm has been trading since 2014.

DRW says that Bellerive is still currently with the company, overseeing a "very friendly" transition to new leadership, and that it's "excited for him to have some time to do other things he’s passionate about" once the transition is complete.

Bellerive "built an incredible team during his tenure" says DRW. His team members seem to agree. One Vigilant team member via Glassdoor said Bellerive provided a "fun, creative" environment that he was very grateful for.

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