TradingBlock appoints data scientist Michael “Dr Data” Rechenthin as chief innovation officer to lead AI, analytics, and quantitative research.
TradingBlock, an online brokerage focused on customizable trading technology, said Tuesday that it has appointed Michael Rechenthin as its chief innovation officer, tasking him with leading the firm’s artificial intelligence, big-data analytics, and quantitative research initiatives.
Dr Rechenthin, widely known in the trading industry as “Dr Data,” brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of financial markets and advanced technology. In his new role, he will design and develop systems for research, idea generation, execution, and portfolio analytics, while advancing TradingBlock’s online trading platform. He will also build new data science models to support internal dashboards aimed at improving customer service and operational transparency.
“Michael’s reputation as one of the most forward-thinking data scientists in the trading industry speaks for itself,” said Jere Wickert, president and chief executive of TradingBlock. His expertise, Wickert said, will strengthen the company’s technology foundation and enhance the trading experience for clients.
Dr Rechenthin will also serve as a conference speaker and a regular contributor to TradingBlock’s weekly market research newsletter, The Strike Zone, which focuses on data-driven analysis of market trends.
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Before joining TradingBlock, which was recently recognized by Benzinga as the 2025 Best Brokerage for Options Trading, Dr Rechenthin spent nearly 12 years at tastytrade, where he served as managing director of research and development. There, he led research and technology strategy for options and futures trading, designing real-time pricing engines, large language model–powered tools, and data analytics platforms used by traders across the firm.
Earlier in his career, Dr Rechenthin served as chief data scientist at Small Exchange, where he helped develop new index and derivatives products. He also co-founded the Quiet Foundation, building machine-learning–driven risk models and cloud-based data pipelines before the company was acquired by IG Group. He later founded Cherry Picks, a quantitative trading newsletter, and began his career as a market maker on the Chicago Stock Exchange.
“TradingBlock has built a platform that balances flexibility, power, and accessibility,” Dr Rechenthin said. “I’m excited to expand what’s possible by creating smarter systems that help clients trade with greater confidence and precision.”
Dr Rechenthin holds a doctorate in machine learning from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in information technology from Loyola University Chicago.
