United Fintech Appoints Deepak Nair as Chief Operating Officer

United Fintech has named Deepak Nair as its new Chief Operating Officer, joining the Executive Leadership Team. In this role, Nair will oversee the development and execution of the firm’s global operational strategy, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and alignment across its fintech platform and partner network.

Nair brings over 20 years of experience from roles at Virgin Media O2, McKinsey & Company, UBS, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs. His background includes large-scale transformation initiatives, post-merger integration, and operational strategy. At Virgin Media O2, he led enterprise-wide restructuring for a 15,000-strong workforce and built a data-driven transformation office. Based in London, Nair will report directly to United Fintech’s founder and CEO, Christian Frahm.

Chris Jackson Appointed Global Head of Equities at Liquidnet

Liquidnet has promoted Chris Jackson to the role of global head of equities, marking a new chapter in his decade-long career with the firm. Based in London, Jackson steps up from his previous dual position as global head of equity strategy and head of equities for EMEA, roles he held since August 2019.

Jackson joined Liquidnet in March 2015 as head of EQS for EMEA before transitioning into equities leadership. Before his tenure at Liquidnet, he served as head of EMEA execution sales at Citi from 2009 to 2015, and previously held director-level roles in portfolio sales, analytics, and sales trading at SBC Warburg and Merrill Lynch. In 2012, he briefly advised HM Treasury and the Government Office for Science on computer-based trading while at Citi.

Sterling Trading Tech Appoints Julie Armstrong as Chief Commercial Officer to Drive Global Expansion

Sterling Trading Tech has appointed Julie Armstrong as its Chief Commercial Officer, a new role aimed at supporting the company’s global growth strategy. This move reflects Sterling’s ongoing evolution, marked by progress in attracting new client segments, expanding product offerings, and increasing its international footprint. Armstrong will lead efforts to advance strategic revenue initiatives across Sterling’s Order Management System, Risk and Margin, and Trading Platforms, which serve all asset classes globally.

Armstrong brings extensive experience in fintech and revenue generation, having previously held leadership roles at ChartIQ and CME Group Inc. Her background includes overseeing global market technology services and contributing to diversity initiatives within the industry. Her appointment is expected to bolster Sterling’s commercial capabilities and support its next stage of accelerated development.

LSEG Appoints Gianluca Biagini and Ron Lefferts as Co-Heads of Data & Analytics

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has appointed Gianluca Biagini and Ron Lefferts as Co-Heads of its Data & Analytics division. Biagini, set to join from S&P Global on 18 August 2025, and Lefferts, who has been with LSEG since 2021 and joined the Executive Committee in 2023, will jointly lead the global data and analytics operations. Both will report directly to CEO David Schwimmer and become members of the Executive Committee.

The pair will oversee LSEG’s services to over 44,000 customers in more than 170 countries, with a particular focus on expanding the LSEG Workspace product. Biagini brings over 25 years of experience from roles at S&P Global and Bloomberg, specialising in financial instrument valuation and analytics. Lefferts, currently LSEG’s Group Head of Sales & Account Management, has held previous senior roles at Protiviti and IBM, leading technology and financial services initiatives globally.

SimCorp Appoints Ronan Donnelly as Chief Operations Officer

SimCorp has announced the appointment of Ronan Donnelly as its new Chief Operations Officer, effective immediately. Donnelly will play a key role in guiding the company’s strategic direction, streamlining operations, and supporting long-term sustainable growth. He will report directly to CEO Georg Hetrodt.

Donnelly joined SimCorp in 2020 and most recently served as Senior Vice President of SaaS Operations. His achievements at the company include implementing AI-enabled support and expanding SimCorp’s global footprint with a presence in Mexico City. He brings prior experience from senior roles at fintech firms such as SunGard, FIS, and Finastra. Donnelly holds a BA in Banking and Finance from the University of Ulster and has international experience from time spent in London and New York.

Athena Appoints Scott Loughran as Head of Client Engagement, North America, to Drive Regional Expansion

Athena, the Order Management System (OMS) and Portfolio Management System (PMS) solutions provider, part of United Fintech, has named Scott Loughran as Head of Client Engagement for North America. This appointment supports Athena’s strategic growth in the region, aiming to enhance service quality, streamline implementations, and deliver innovative solutions to hedge funds and asset managers.

Loughran brings extensive experience in fintech and asset management platforms, having held key roles at AlphaDesk and d1g1t, where he led successful client engagement and implementation initiatives. His leadership will focus on scaling Athena’s North American client services and driving platform adoption.

This move follows Athena’s broader expansion strategy in the region, including the Q4 2024 appointment of Abdi Kahiye as Senior Implementation Specialist. With experience from d1g1t, Refinitiv, and AlphaDesk, Kahiye adds further strength to Athena’s implementation capabilities.

Gresham Appoints Matthew Greninger as General Manager of Data Automation Solutions

Global fintech firm Gresham has named Matthew Greninger as its new General Manager for Data Automation Solutions. Greninger brings significant industry experience, having held senior roles at Duco, Kaiko, and NeoXam, where he led sales and go-to-market initiatives across various regions and solutions.

Operating from Gresham’s New York office, Greninger will oversee global go-to-market functions, including business development, sales, solution engineering, account management, and strategic partnerships. His responsibilities will cover the full suite of Gresham’s data automation offerings: Connect Cloud, Control Cloud, and Pulse Data.

Delta Capita Appoints Simon O’Malley as Group Chief Finance & Operating Officer

Delta Capita has appointed Simon O’Malley as Group Chief Finance & Operating Officer. Based in London and reporting directly to CEO Joe Channer, O’Malley will oversee both finance and operations, supporting the firm’s enterprise value creation, operational scalability, and financial resilience. His remit includes capital efficiency, balance sheet management, transformation initiatives, and driving growth through acquisitions.

O’Malley brings over 25 years of experience in financial services, consulting, and transformation. His background includes leadership roles in finance and operations at Saxo Capital Markets UK, HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, and ABN AMRO. The appointment underlines Delta Capita’s focus on sustainable growth and disciplined financial management as it continues to expand its global business.

IEX Appoints Steven Bonanno as CIO to Lead Tech Strategy and Market Expansion

IEX Group, Inc., the exchange operator and capital markets technology company, has named Steven Bonanno as Chief Information Officer to support the company’s continued growth and innovation in exchange technology. As part of the leadership team, Bonanno will oversee the execution of IEX’s technology strategy, with a focus on platform resilience and scalability, as the firm looks to expand into new markets.

Bonanno brings significant experience in multi-asset class exchange technology, having previously served as CEO of BXS and CIO at DASH. His career also includes leadership roles at Direct Edge, Bloomberg, Nasdaq, BRUT ECN, and Instinet. His appointment aligns with IEX’s strategic initiatives, which have recently led to a threefold increase in displayed market share since June 2024. IEX is also preparing to enter the U.S. options market, pending regulatory approval.

Duco Appoints Margaret Franco as Chief Marketing Officer

Duco, the data automation company, has named Margaret Franco as its first Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Franco brings over two decades of experience leading global marketing teams across the US, EMEA, and APAC. She has held senior roles at technology firms including Dell and HP, spending 13 years at Dell and rising to Senior Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa before her departure in 2020.

She has also served as CMO at Finastra and Kinasis, leading global marketing and business development functions. Most recently, she provided strategic marketing and growth advisory services through her firm, Growth Marketing Solutions. In 2022, Franco was recognised as one of the Top 25 Women Leaders in Financial Technology by The Financial Technology Report.