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.”

Broadridge Appoints David Fellah and Alix Jules to Advance AI Trading Solutions and Transformation

Broadridge Financial Solutions has appointed David Fellah as Vice President of AI Trading Solutions and Alix Jules as AI Business Transformation Leader, both reporting to Roger Burkhardt, Enterprise Head of AI and Data and CTO of Capital Markets. Based in New York, Fellah will focus on developing AI and analytics-based trading solutions to enhance client strategies and reduce costs. Fellah brings three decades of experience in trading technology and quantitative research, with prior roles at Instinet, ITG, and J.P. Morgan.

“David brings a holistic understanding of the financial and technological considerations that front-office traders face,” said Burkhardt. “His experience and success underscore our commitment to investing in AI-powered innovations that deliver meaningful and differential value to global markets.”

Alix Jules, who also joins Broadridge in New York, will lead the transformation strategy to improve productivity and streamline operations through GenAI and digital tools. Previously with Google, IBM, and Verizon Business, Jules brings expertise in implementing AI-driven operational efficiencies. These appointments support Broadridge’s expanding portfolio of AI-powered innovations, including BondGPT, OpsGPT, and Tradeverse, aimed at delivering enhanced data and AI solutions to clients in capital markets.

“We are excited to have Alix join Broadridge where we are dedicated to leveraging AI to better serve our clients, empower our staff and drive efficiency in operations,” commented Burkhardt. “Alix’s background in digital and AI driven transformations brings invaluable “hands on” expertise to our business and operations teams as they transform the ways in which we service our clients and meet the needs of the financial services industry.  He brings deep and practical understanding of both the human and technical elements of business transformations.”

TRG Screen Expands Global Operations with New Center in Bangalore and Key Leadership Appointments

TRG Screen, the B2B market data and subscription cost management solutions provider, has opened a new Global Capacity Center in Bangalore, India, and made a series of strategic leadership appointments. The Bangalore center aims to enhance TRG Screen’s ability to provide around-the-clock client support, to reinforce the company’s operational resilience, and expand its talent base in key areas like AI, data analytics, and managed services, supporting TRG Screen’s global client base across multiple time zones.

Alongside this expansion, TRG Screen has bolstered its executive team under CEO Leigh Walters, with new roles focused on financial growth, customer experience, technological advancement, and product innovation. Key appointees include Marina Angelides as CFO, Terence Faherty as CRO, Nadine Scott as CCO, Harvinder Vasir as CTO, Suzanne Ward as CPO, and Amjad Zoghbi as Head of Solutions Engineering.

OptAxe Appoints FX Industry Leader Chris Smith as Chief Business Development Officer

OptAxe, the regulated trading platform specialising in liquidity solutions for FX options, has appointed Chris Smith, a veteran in foreign exchange (FX) markets, to its management team. The strategic hire follows OptAxe’s recent authorisation by the UK’s FCA to operate as a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) for FX options, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation in centralised liquidity and trading efficiency.

Smith brings over 30 years of experience across prominent financial institutions, having held senior roles at Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Citi, and Credit Suisse. Known for his expertise in technology-driven trading solutions, Smith has led numerous initiatives to enhance market efficiency and deepen liquidity access. His addition to OptAxe’s leadership team is set to accelerate the firm’s growth and solidify its position as a leading platform in FX options trading.

ITRS Hires Ryan Terpstra as New CEO to Drive Growth and Innovation

ITRS, the real-time IT monitoring and observability solutions provider, has appointed Ryan Terpstra as CEO. Terpstra replaces Guy Warren, who led the company for over a decade and is stepping down to prioritise family commitments. Terpstra brings over 20 years of leadership experience in technology, most recently serving as Chief Product Officer at ION Analytics, a division of ION Group. His background includes founding Selerity, where he developed AI-powered products, positioning him well to enhance ITRS’s AIOps capabilities.

Under Terpstra’s leadership, ITRS plans to expand its offerings through product innovation and strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A), supported by key stakeholders, including Montagu and TA Associates. This strategic leadership transition underscores ITRS’s commitment to advancing its market position and delivering value to both new and existing clients.

DiffusionData Appoints Raphael Vergnaud as Chief Revenue Officer

DiffusionData, thereal-time data streaming and messaging solutions vendor, has named Raphael Vergnaud as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Vergnaud brings over 25 years of global experience in enterprise sales, previously holding senior roles at companies such as Montrium, Zendrive, and Keatext. In his new position, he will oversee all revenue-generating activities, focusing on sales and marketing strategies to drive business growth.

With a background as both a software engineer and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Vergnaud is well-equipped to lead DiffusionData’s sales efforts. His expertise spans new business development, sales strategy, and building high-performance sales teams. DiffusionData’s flagship framework, Diffusion, is widely used in industries like financial services and eGaming, offering patented delta streaming technology that reduces bandwidth and cloud costs while delivering real-time, hyper-personalised data.

SGX FX Strengthens Liquidity and Data Innovation with Appointment of Hugh Whelan

SGX FX, the FX arm of the Singapore Exchange, has appointed Hugh Whelan as head of liquidity management and data strategy, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing liquidity provision and advancing data-driven solutions.

Whelan, formerly the head of EBS Direct at CME Group, will be based in London and tasked with steering the strategic direction of the liquidity provider segment. His responsibilities include fostering relationships with key sell-side clients, identifying growth opportunities, and improving platform capabilities to better serve the liquidity provider community. Whelan brings a wealth of experience in the FX market, having successfully led the development of EBS Direct into a bilateral FX trading venue. His expertise in driving commercial success and product innovation will be key to SGX FX’s future growth.

Devexperts Appoints Ben Hurley as New CEO to Drive Innovation and Growth

Devexperts, the global capital markets software developer, has appointed Ben Hurley as its new Chief Executive Officer. This leadership change marks the beginning of a new phase of growth for the company, which provides tailored technology solutions to financial institutions and brokerages worldwide. Hurley, who joined Devexperts in 2022 as Country Manager for Ireland, has played a key role in the company’s restructuring efforts and operational improvements.

With over 20 years of experience in innovation, business optimisation, and product development, Hurley is well-suited to lead Devexperts into its next chapter. His vision focuses on enhancing the company’s ability to offer seamless access to capital markets for firms, further solidifying its position as a leading provider of financial technology solutions.

Sustainable Trading Report Highlights Workplace Challenges in Global Trading Industry

Sustainable Trading, the non-profit membership network dedicated to transforming ESG practices within the global markets trading industry, has released the “LIFE BEYOND THE DESK: Trading Employee Workplace Experience Report,” offering insights into the experiences of 270 current and former trading professionals. The report suggests the need for industry-wide changes in workplace practices, particularly concerning health, flexibility, and career development. Key findings include that 35% of respondents called for reduced market hours, and 37% expressed concerns over long hours affecting their health and personal lives. While 65% reported some flexibility in their work, many struggle with managing responsibilities outside work, and 1 in 5 employees feel their job negatively impacts their wellbeing.

While 80% of respondents commend senior management’s communication styles, issues around career progression persist, with 51% leaving roles due to lack of upward mobility and female employees being more likely to exit due to company culture. The report aims to guide firms in creating more supportive work environments to improve talent attraction and retention.

Duncan Higgins, CEO of Sustainable Trading, commented: “Understanding emerging trends is key for the industry’s evolution. To stay competitive and attract top talent, we must come together to explore these findings and collectively develop initiatives that align with evolving workforce expectations. It’s time to reassess traditional practices and implement changes that support both employee wellbeing and industry growth.”

Chris McConville, Global Head of Execution Services and Trading, Kepler Cheuvreux, added: “This excellent research highlights the many positive experiences within the industry, offering valuable insights from around the globe. While it’s encouraging to celebrate these successes, there is still significant work ahead to enhance our industry. We must ensure that our practices align with their expectations to attract and retain the very best talent. Collaboration across the industry is essential to create a more sustainable and inclusive working environment for everyone.”

Exegy Strengthens Leadership with New Hires to Lead Client Success Initiative

Exegy, the market data and trading technology provider, has appointed Yewande Sobola and Thomas Gallo to lead its new Client Success Initiative, marking a key milestone in the company’s integration of Enyx and Vela. This initiative is designed to enhance Exegy’s role as an extension of its clients’ technology and operations teams, helping them achieve improved business outcomes.

Sobola, appointed as Global Head of Solutions Consulting, brings over 15 years of trading technology experience, with a focus on maximising client value and accelerating infrastructure deployments. Gallo, the new Vice President, Head of Client Success, will drive client engagement and align Exegy’s services with client goals. Their combined leadership will drive global support and delivery functions, aiming to ensure that clients can fully leverage Exegy’s solutions.