Trusted Experience. Proven Results.
Our leadership team represents a rare tier of financial expertise, global perspective, and unwavering client focus. With over 45 years of combined direct experience across global capital markets, infrastructure, structured finance, and credit, they have held senior positions at some of the world’s most prestigious financial institutions — bringing a depth of insight shaped by decades of execution at the highest levels.
Our leaders lead from the front — fully hands-on, ensuring clients work directly with senior decision-makers, not layers of junior staff and analyst.
As published writers, speakers and respected voices in global economics, infrastructure and finance, their influence extends beyond transactions — shaping outcomes, informing policy, and advancing capital solutions that align with each client’s most critical objectives.
Russell Duke
Group CEO and President
Russell Duke is the Chief Executive Officer of National Standard, a premier global infrastructure investment firm and a trailblazer in the field of government-linked finance. With over 20 years of experience in international finance, infrastructure investment, and economic policy, Duke has been at the forefront of redefining how infrastructure is financed and delivered around the world. Since assuming the CEO role in 2013—after joining the firm in 2008—he has transformed National Standard into a global player in the market, recognized for its innovative use of private credit debt in sovereign linked debt and infrastructure transactions.
Under his leadership, National Standard has become a trusted partner to governments, multilateral institutions, and corporations across more than 50 countries, offering not only capital but strategic infrastructure planning and comprehensive advisory services. Duke was among the first to champion private capital solutions for large-scale public infrastructure challenges, making National Standard a pioneer in leveraging institutional private capital for high-impact, government-backed projects and essential infrastructure assets.
A respected voice in global finance and infrastructure policy, Duke is a frequent keynote speaker at international finance forums, policy summits, and conferences. His thought leadership extends to the written word as the author of two influential books on global finance—The Global Tapestry, which explores the interconnectedness of modern economies and how they influence geopolitics, and The End of the Petrodollar, a forward-looking analysis of shifting global monetary systems and geopolitical power dynamics.
Prior to joining National Standard in 2008, Mr. Duke cultivated a broad and accomplished background in financial services, serving in key roles across investment banking, real estate lending, and commercial and corporate finance. He also held executive positions as Chief Financial Officer at two FinTech companies.
With a reputation for visionary thinking and executional excellence, Russell Duke continues to shape the future of infrastructure finance, driving sustainable economic growth and modernization across the globe.
Robert Lavin
CFO & Chief Investment Officer
Robert Lavin brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience to his dual role as CFO and CIO of National Standard, where he also serves on the firm’s Management and Investment Committees. He has held senior positions at top-tier global banks—including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, UBS, and CIBC—advising institutional clients on fixed income strategy, structured credit, and complex financial solutions. At National Standard, he oversees financial administration, credit structuring, loan pricing, treasury, and investor relations.
Mr. Lavin holds an MBA from the University of Chicago in Finance, Accounting and Marketing and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia.