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.

Broadridge Appoints New AI Leader for Internal Operations

Artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Alix Jules has been appointed to lead Broadridge Financial Solutions’ AI business transformation unit at its New York headquarters.

Jules will be responsible for improving efficiency and productivity at the FinTech provider. With a track record in leading AI-linked initiatives at Google, IBM and Verizon Business, Jules’ experience makes him a good fit for Broardridge’s internal operations, said head of AI Roger 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,” Burkhardt said in a statement. “He brings deep and practical understanding of both the human and technical elements of business transformations.”

Broadridge has launched several generative AI-focussed products, including BondGPT, OpsGPT and Tradeverse.

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.