London Stock Exchange Group Appoints Susi de Verdelon as CEO of LCH Limited

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has appointed of Susi de Verdelon as CEO of LCH Limited, effective February 2025, pending regulatory approval. Reporting to Daniel Maguire, Group Head of LSEG Markets and CEO of LCH Group, de Verdelon succeeds Isabelle Girolami, who has served as CEO since November 2019.

Susi de Verdelon has been with LCH Limited since 2017 and currently leads LCH SwapClear and Listed Rates as Group Head, overseeing growth and operational resilience. Before joining LCH, she held senior roles in Sales & Strategy at Goldman Sachs’ Securities Division.

Daniel Maguire, Group Head, LSEG Markets, and CEO of LCH Group commented: “I’m delighted that Susi will be assuming the role of CEO, LCH Limited. As Group Head of LCH SwapClear & Listed Rates, she has driven growth and expansion into new markets, extended LCH Limited’s position in the rates market during benchmark reform, and most recently re-launched the Listed Rates service. I look forward to continuing to work with Susi as we expand our multi-asset class offering and deliver new products and services.”

Susi de Verdelon added: “I am excited by the opportunity to become the CEO of LCH Limited. This role has tremendous responsibility, and I am committed to driving forward our strategic vision, fostering a culture of excellence, and strengthening our position as a market leader in risk management. I look forward to working with the team to deliver more innovation and efficiencies to our customers, regulators, and the markets we serve.”

Senior Leadership Appointments at CSC Funds and Capital Markets Division

CSC has taken a step to strengthen its global compliance and risk management capabilities by appointing two seasoned leaders to key roles. With extensive experience in compliance, logistics, and regulatory strategy, Mark Calandra will now lead CSC’s Corporate and Legal Solutions (CLS) division, while Ian McConnel becomes the company’s chief legal officer overseeing Legal, Risk, and Compliance.

Calandra brings two decades of experience within CSC, most recently growing the Digital Brand Services division into a recognized provider of domain security. Industry observers suggest his blend of operational expertise and deep understanding of regulatory demands will help CLS navigate a complex compliance landscape.

On the legal front, McConnel’s background spans private practice, public service, and senior corporate roles. His appointment, according to company representatives, signals CSC’s continued focus on robust legal and compliance frameworks. Over his tenure at CSC, McConnel has cultivated a reputation for balancing governance requirements with practical solutions—experience that positions him to guide the Legal, Risk, and Compliance teams effectively.

“We’re dedicated to helping clients navigate an ever more challenging regulatory landscape,” says Rod Ward, president and CEO of CSC. “These two leaders will be instrumental in that effort. Both appointments reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional value and creative, pragmatic answers to our clients’ biggest business challenges.”

These leadership changes follow similar moves in CSC’s newly combined Funds and Capital Markets (FCM) division in December, with John Hebert expanding his responsibilities to lead the FCM business, while Venkat Srinivasan has been named global head of funds and enterprise capabilities.

These changes come on the heels of CSC’s integration of the Intertrust Group—originally acquired in November 2022—and its incorporation into the CSC brand. With a global presence spanning more than 140 jurisdictions and a team of over 8,000, CSC aims to deliver broader services to fund managers, asset owners, lenders, and advisors under a unified FCM structure.

In his new role as executive vice president and president of FCM, Hebert will direct CSC’s worldwide offerings across multiple asset classes and geographies. He previously oversaw CSC’s Global Capital Markets business and led initiatives that saw a 250% increase in capital markets and funds revenue over five years.

Srinivasan, appointed as global head of funds and enterprise capabilities, is credited with more than two decades of experience in private equity and the funds sector. He co-led the funds business at Intertrust Group prior to its acquisition and will now focus on developing integrated, centralized solutions for clients navigating an increasingly complex financial landscape.

“We are excited to welcome John and Venkat into their new roles as we continue to drive growth across our core markets,” Ward noted on the December appointments. “They have already demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities at CSC and together will be invaluable in setting the strategic direction for our FCM business.”

By strengthening its leadership bench, CSC appears poised to develop new approaches for clients aiming to stay ahead of global compliance demands.

Droit Appoints Somerset Pheasant as Chief Strategy Officer to Drive Growth and Partnerships

Droit, provider of computational law and regulatory solutions, has named Somerset Pheasant as its Chief Strategy Officer. In this newly created role, Pheasant will lead the development and execution of the firm’s strategic initiatives, focusing on growth acceleration, partnership engagement, and alignment with client needs.

Pheasant’s appointment comes after a significant year for Droit, marked by key product launches. In 2024, Droit partnered with FINBOURNE to deliver a comprehensive position reporting solution and introduced its Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETD) Reporting product to enhance regulatory transparency for listed derivatives. The company plans further advancements in regulatory solutions for both buy-side and sell-side clients in 2025.

Pheasant brings over 15 years of financial industry experience, including his role as Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where he led strategic investing and managed a $500 million portfolio. He previously served on Droit’s board from 2016 to 2023, contributing to its growth and strategic direction.

Brock Arnason, Founder and CEO of Droit, commented: “We have enjoyed a longstanding and productive relationship with Somerset. His experience as a member of the Droit board as well as within strategy and investing at Goldman Sachs will be invaluable as we embark on the next stage of our corporate growth plan. We look forward to the contribution he will make as part of the leadership of Droit.”

Somerset Pheasant, Chief Strategy Officer of Droit, added: “Droit has a proven ability to help financial institutions meet their regulatory obligations in the complex and evolving environment within which they operate. That, and the innovation that underpins this, has set Droit apart since the start of my engagement with the company back in 2016, and it continues to do so. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as Droit continues to refine its strategy and expand the range of solutions which enable clients to navigate the challenges of ongoing global regulatory change with consistency, clarity and accuracy.”

Target Group Appoints Scott Hill as CIO to Drive IT Strategy and Digital Transformation

Target Group, the provider of business process services and digital transformation solutions, has appointed Scott Hill as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO). Hill brings over 25 years of IT industry experience, having led large-scale digital transformation projects across financial services, utilities, education, and retail sectors. His career includes senior roles at Accenture, Circle, The White Company, and most recently, Diageo, where he oversaw global website transformation initiatives.

In his new role, Hill will drive Target’s IT strategy to enhance digital capabilities and meet the evolving needs of clients across various sectors. Hill’s appointment reflects Target’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation and expanding its digital transformation services.

Exegy Appoints Jim Fiesel as Chief Revenue Officer to Drive Growth and Innovation

Exegy, the market data and trading technology provider, has appointed Jim Fiesel as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Fiesel, previously Managing Director of the Americas at Broadridge, brings extensive expertise from leadership roles at Bloomberg, Tradeweb, and Finastra. Exegy’s 64% sales growth in 2024 highlights its momentum, which Fiesel aims to accelerate drawing on his deep market knowledge and proven track record in delivering innovative client solutions.

In 2024, Exegy made significant strides in its low-latency trading technology, notably nxFramework, enabling FPGA-based development with record-breaking trade execution latency of 13.9ns.

Commenting on the appointment, David Taylor, CEO of Exegy, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jim to our world-class team. His proven ability to build and lead successful teams that deliver real value to clients will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. Our sharp focus on delivering superior client experiences directly contributed to our success in 2024. Recruiting Jim represents a doubling-down on our investment in strengthening our client partnerships.”

Fiesel added: “I’m thrilled about the future of the Exegy product suite, especially our next-generation enterprise market data solution that integrates proven technologies and services from Exegy, Enyx, and Vela. This innovative offering was a key factor in my decision to join Exegy and I’m eager to help our clients capitalize on these exciting advancements.”

Finastra Announces CEO Transition as Chris Walters Succeeds Simon Paris

Finastra, the global financial services software provider, has announced a leadership change with Simon Paris stepping down as Chief Executive Officer after nearly a decade in charge. Chris Walters, former CEO of Pluralsight and Avantax, will take over as Finastra’s new CEO. Walters brings extensive experience in scaling technology companies, having previously held senior roles at McKinsey & Company and Bloomberg.

During Paris’s tenure, Finastra achieved significant milestones, including the integration of Misys and D+H in 2017, establishing a client base of over 8,000 institutions across 130 countries, and earning top industry accolades for innovation and leadership. Under his leadership, the company also made notable progress in AI capabilities and widespread upskilling of employees.

The leadership transition marks a pivotal moment for Finastra as it begins its new strategic phase in 2025. Paris and Walters will collaborate during the handover to ensure a seamless transition.

Commenting on his appointment, Walters said: “I’m excited to join Finastra at this pivotal moment in its journey and am impressed by the significant progress that has been made during Simon’s leadership. I look forward to working with the talented team to drive sustainable growth and continue to deliver more value to our customers, team members, and investors.”

Finastra Appoints Chris Walters as New Chief Executive

Financial software provider Finastra has named Chris Walters as its new chief executive, replacing Simon Paris, who steps down after almost a decade at the company’s helm.

Walters joins London-based Finastra from Plurasight and Avantax, where he was chief executive. He has also held senior positions at McKinsey and Bloomberg.

Finbourne Appoints New Sales Head to Lead Asia Expansion

Investment data and technology provider Finbourne Technology said it has bolstered its presence in Asia with the appointment of Peter Edwards as head of sales for the region.

A former BNY Mellon Eagle sales specialist in Asia, Edwards has been tasked with leading the company’s expansion in the region from Singapore. He’ll be responsible for the acquisition of clients “across the entire product spectrum and segments”.

Finbourne, which also has offices in London, Australia and Ireland, has raised £100 million in funding and is committing that new capital to its expansion plans.

“Peter’s experience makes him a perfect fit for our company at this pivotal juncture,” said chief executive Thomas McHugh. “His role will be integral in reinforcing Finbourne’s position in this dynamic region.”

SIX Names Sibbern as New CEO

SIX’s head of exchanges Bjørn Sibbern has been named the successor to chief executive Jos Dijsselhof.

Danish national Sibbern will take the reins of the Swiss data and trading venue operator on January 1. He joined the company a year ago and has more than two decades experience in capital markets, including roles at Nasdaq and OMX Exchanges. Dijsselhof, who will round off seven years in the top post, will remain at SIX until the end of February.

SIX chair Thomas Wellauer paid tribute to the outgoing chief executive, saying he had presided over the company at a time of growth.

“Over the past seven years, he has strengthened the international footprint of SIX, championed innovation such as SDX and has been instrumental in transforming and modernising the corporate culture of SIX, thus positioning the company for further success,” Wellauer said.

Rimes Hires Banking Data Expert Naidoo to Manage Matrix Platform

Rimes has appointed Neal Naidoo as head of investment platform solutions and will lead development of the data management and investment services firm’s Matrix Investment Management Platform.

Naidoo, has more than two decades of experience in financial engineering, quantitative analytics and data science at banks including Barclays and Deutsche Bank. He said he aims to help Rimes’ clients “meet the demands of a rapidly changing market environment with tools that streamline data-driven decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and support long-term asset performance”.

The Matrix Platform is the core investment management product of the enterprise data management-as-a-service (EDMaaS) provider, whose clients manage more than US$75 trillion in assets.