Jim Hempstead
Managing Director, Moody’s RatingsJim Hempstead is a Managing Director in Moody’s Global Project & Infrastructure Finance Group where he helps manage the Global Project and Infrastructure Finance Team. The portfolio covers over 2,000 issuers with approximately $3.5 trillion of debt. Sectors include global regulated electric and gas utilities, transmission and distribution networks, unregulated utilities and power companies, public and municipally-owned utilities, and power generation projects. Other transportation assets, including toll roads, sea ports and airports, are included along with a variety of project finance structures, public-private partnership and other P-3 projects.
Jim is also a member of the Digital Finance team, and previously managed the rating agency’s Cyber Risk Team, which looks to incorporate cyber security risk into credit analysis. Between 2017 – 2020, Jim helped manage the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance effort out of New York.
Prior to joining Moody’s, Jim spent time as an investment banker. He worked at both Merrill Lynch & Co. and Smith Barney, working in their Global Energy & Power Group. He provided financial and advisory services to electric, natural gas distribution, interstate pipeline, energy merchant, water and energy technology companies.
Jim graduated with a B.S.B.A. from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from Fordham University. From 2011 - 2013, Jim served as the Director of Emergency Management for his hometown in New Jersey, and is a registered EMT (retired) for his local, volunteer first aid squad. Jim is a member of the Wall Street Utility Group and served as a Trustee with the Society of Utility and Regulatory Financial Analysts (SURFA) between 2012 - 2020. He served on the Advisory Council for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) from 2014-2019.