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.

Quant Appoints Lenna Russ as Chief Commercial Officer to Drive Growth

Quant, specialists in digital finance, has announced the appointment of Lenna Russ as Chief Commercial Officer, a newly established role within the company. Russ joins from Tradeteq, where she served as Chief Revenue Officer for three years, overseeing significant achievements such as a $12.5 million Series A Plus funding round, the launch of a new office in Dubai, and securing membership with the FCI.

At Quant, Russ will leverage her over 20 years of experience in consulting, financial services, and SaaS to lead the company’s commercial operations, including marketing, sales, and product development, as it continues to grow. Prior to Tradeteq, she held senior roles at Polecat and NICE Satmetrix.

DTCC Welcomes Four New Directors to Board of Directors

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), has added four new members to its Board of Directors.

Brian Gallagher, Global Head of Markets Operations at JPMorgan Chase, brings over 23 years of experience in various leadership roles within the firm. Christopher Gelvin, Chief Operating Officer of Group Operations and Technology Office at UBS, has been with UBS for nearly 20 years, focusing on strategic planning and data governance. Jon Herrick, Chief Product Officer at the NYSE, oversees product development and competitive strategy for the exchange’s transactions and market data businesses. Igor Modlin, Global Head of Prime Services Product Development at Goldman Sachs, has held significant roles since joining the firm in 2005.

These appointments aim to strengthen DTCC’s strategic direction, risk management, regulatory compliance, and innovation in financial technology.

Delta Capita Appoints Bradley Szu-Tu as Head of Client Lifecycle Management in APAC

Delta Capita, the Capital Markets consulting, managed services, and technology provider, has appointed Bradley Szu-Tu as the Head of Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) in the APAC region. Based in Singapore, Szu-Tu will oversee the expansion and management of Delta Capita’s CLM business across consulting, services, and technology for financial services clients, which currently number over 20 in APAC.

With more than 15 years of experience in risk and compliance, Szu-Tu has previously held significant roles at Promontory, IBM Consulting, and Credit Suisse. This appointment follows Delta Capita’s recent acquisition of Client On-Boarding technology from the London Stock Exchange Group and the appointment of Liliana Girao-Tavares as Head of CLM in the US.

Szu-Tu aims to provide tailored CLM solutions to address the complex challenges faced by clients in the APAC region, enhancing value and efficiency while reducing Capex/Opex requirements. Julian Chesser, Head of APAC at Delta Capita, welcomed his addition to the team, emphasising the company’s commitment to a practitioner-led approach in the increasingly regulated capital markets sector.

London Stock Exchange Group Appoints Pascal Boillat as Chief Operating Officer

The London Stock Exchange Group plc (LSEG) has appointed Pascal Boillat as Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 July 2024. Reporting to CEO David Schwimmer, Boillat will be based in New York and will lead LSEG’s global operations division, supporting both internal and customer services. He will also join the Group’s Executive Committee.

Boillat brings over 35 years of experience in senior operational and technology roles within the financial services sector. His most recent position was Group Executive, Enterprise Services & Chief Information Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He has also served as Group Chief Information Officer at Deutsche Bank and Head of Operations and Technology at Fannie Mae.

CLS Appoints Five New Directors to Board at 2024 Annual General Meeting

CLS, the financial market infrastructure group, announced the appointment of five new directors to its Board of Directors at the CLS Annual General Meeting on 4 June 2024. The new board members are Teddy Cho (BNY Mellon), Scott Lucas (JP Morgan Chase), Akila Raman (Goldman Sachs), Peter Whitelaw (National Australia Bank), and Michael Lawrence (Independent).

Teddy Cho brings over 30 years of experience in technology roles at major financial institutions. Scott Lucas, Head of Markets DLT at J.P. Morgan, has a background in trading product development. Akila Raman, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer of Transaction Banking at Goldman Sachs, has extensive strategic and operational experience. Peter Whitelaw, Executive General Manager at National Australia Bank, specialises in risk management. Michael Lawrence, a former Citigroup Managing Director, has a strong background in operational and compliance risk. The CLS Board now has 21 directors, including eight outside or independent directors.