Leadership Changes This Week: IG Asia (IG Asia), Equity Group, Scope Markets and More
No notable changes in executive appointments reshaped the markets for Forex, Crypto and Fintech this week. However, it was a different story in the financial sector, with several significant developments. Tony Lim is set to leave IG Asia, while Equiti Group welcomes Sophie Squillacioti as Asia Pacific sales manager. Robert J. Van Eyden takes on the role of chief executive officer at Scope Markets, and Robbert Bouij is appointed CEO of Eurex. Additionally, George Osborne joins Coinbase’s advisory board. These changes reflect the dynamic nature of the financial industry.
These shifts highlight the industry’s focus on growth and regulatory adherence through leadership transitions. Explore our weekly roundup to stay informed about the evolving world of executive appointments in fintech. Discover the changes occurring in the realms of Fintech, Forex and Cryptocurrency.
Executive changes for this week
Exclusive: Tony Lim, CEO of IG Asia, leaves the company after 9 years
Tony Lim, CEO and managing director of IG Asia (the Singaporean unit) of IG Group, LON: IGG , is expected to leave the company in the next few months. Lim, who led IG Asia from 2015 to 2017, is one of several executives leaving IG Group. Lim’s departure is unclear. Kevin Algeo, former CEO of IG APAC & Africa, also recently left his position as part of the broker’s cost-cutting efforts. IG Group previously announced it would reduce its global workforce by 10% to save 50 million horsepower per year.
Lim has had a distinguished career spanning three decades. Before joining IG, he held key positions at Saxo Capital. His background was diverse, ranging from local Singaporean brokers to the trading floors of the Singapore International Monetary Exchange.
Breon Corcoran, the new chief executive, was recently appointed by IG despite these departures. IG Group is also facing financial challenges as it saw a significant decline in revenue, net trading revenue and profit in the first half of fiscal 2024.
Learn more about the leadership changes at IG Asia and the challenges IG Group faces in the financial sector.
Equiti Group appoints FX veteran Sophie Squillacioti as APAC Sales Director
Equiti Group is strengthening its leadership team with the appointment of Sophie Squillacioti as Asia Pacific Sales Director. Squillacioti is a professional with over 20 years of experience who has taken on her new role in the Dubai office. She has extensive experience in managing the Asian business of well-known brokerage brands.
She held various positions before joining Equiti. These included Head of Asia for INFINOX Global, Head of Asia for BDSwiss and Managing Director for China at BlackBull Markets. Sophie Squillacioti also held positions at IFX MARKETS and City Index.
Equiti is expanding its global presence. The company, known for its online trading technologies and multi-asset financial products, has a long history. Recent developments include the company’s entry into the payments sector through the acquisition of Cloud Invest. The company also ventured into the Middle East through the MK Enterprise partnership, establishing itself in Cyprus with a license for broader European operations.
Find out more about Sophie Squillacioti and Equiti Group’s strategic expansion in the financial sector.
Robert J. Van Eyden takes up the position of CEO at Scope Markets South Africa
Robert J. Van Eyden is a well-known figure in the financial sector and will take up the position of Chief Executive Officer at Scope Markets South Africa with immediate effect 1. February. Ses’ appointment will drive growth in online commerce. Van Eyden has had a long and impressive career. He was CEO of IG South Africa, where he broke records in performance, customer satisfaction and market share. Van Eyden also plays a key role on the board of the South African Institute of Financial Markets, where he helps promote professionalism and integrity in financial markets.
In addition to his business successes, Van Eyden is also an author for Penguin Random House South Africa. He is known for his book “Badass Trader,” a study of trading principles and strategies. Van Eyden also ventured into the academic world, lecturing for prestigious institutions such as the University of Pretoria and completing an associate coaching course at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.
The appointment of Robert J. Van Eyden and the prospects of Scope Markets South Africa under his leadership.
Eurex appoints Robbert Booij as CEO amid Brexit uncertainties
Robbert Booij was previously employed at ABN Amro and is now the new CEO of Eurex. Eurex has taken this strategic step to demonstrate its determination to compete in the London financial derivatives market and navigate Brexit uncertainties. Representing a departure from the traditional German leadership style, Booij brings a new perspective to Eurex’s strategic direction. According to the Financial Times, Booij’s appointment is Eurex’s response to Brexit, particularly in the lucrative euro interest rate swap clearing markets.
Booij has extensive industry experience, such as his time at ABN Amro Clearing Bank and his previous role as Chairman of the Eurex Exchange Council. He is a derivatives trader who understands dynamics. Booij will succeed Michael Peters as CEO of Eurex Frankfurt AG on July 1, 2024. Eurex’s growth trajectory is underlined by the significant increase in clearing volume, which reached 185 billion euros in 2018.
Find out more about the appointment of Robbert Bouij as the new CEO of Eurex, his strategic response to regulatory changes and his plans to consolidate his position in the derivatives markets in the face of Brexit uncertainty.
Coinbase gains political advantage by appointing former British minister
George Osborne is the former British chancellor. He has joined Coinbase’s advisory board. This strategic move highlights Coinbase’s growing influence in the political arena. Osborne brings extensive experience in financial policy to Coinbase, having served as UK Chancellor between 2010 and 2016. In his advisory role, Osborne will focus on global expansion and regulatory matters at a time when Coinbase is actively developing the European market while navigating regulatory challenges.
Faryar Shirzad is the Chief Policy Officer of Coinbase. He noted that Osborne was appointed at a time when the company’s global expansion efforts were exciting. Osborne’s unique combination of experience in business, journalism and government will be critical as Coinbase builds connections with politicians and regulators to advance crypto-friendly policies worldwide. His presence highlights the convergence between traditional finance and cryptocurrency.
Learn more about George Osborne and his role in shaping Coinbase’s regulatory strategy and its impact on cryptocurrency.
Exclusive: Blueberry Markets hires former Vantage executive as head of trading and operations
AskFX exclusively learned that Christopher Nelson-Smith left Vantage Markets after eight years to join Blueberry Markets as head of trading and operations . He is now responsible for optimizing trading flows for all products to maximize eFX, Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and trading revenue.
The new Head Trading and Operations brings extensive experience in the retail FX and CDF brokerage industries. He worked at Vantage as a director and head of risk. In addition to his career at VT Markets and City Index, he also held positions at GAIN Capital. Blueberry Markets’ appointment of James O’Neill to the management team is in line with the company’s recent efforts to strengthen its team.
Blueberry Markets is based in Australia and offers a wide range of investment types such as forex, metals, commodities, cryptocurrency indices and stock CFDs. Under Nelson-Smith, the broker is regulated by ASIC in Vanuatu and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Learn more about the appointment of Christopher Nelson-Smith and Blueberry Markets’ strategic development in the trading industry.
ConnextFX, a Seychelles-based CFD broker, has appointed Simon Andras Group as CEO.
ConnextFX is a retail FX broker and provider of contracts for difference. Simon Andras has been appointed Group CEO and Executive Director. This is an important milestone in ConnextFX’s two-year brand development journey. Andras has extensive experience in the asset management industry. He was Head of Sales and Partnerships at Tickmill from 2020 to 2022 and Head of Business Development at Blackwell Global from 2017 to 2020. These included Great Britain, Hungary and Cyprus. The rise of ConnextFX in the foreign exchange market is reflected in the appointment of Andras.
Andras’ experience extends to his tenure between 2015 and 2017 as Head of Sales and Business Development for FXPRIMUS, where he helped build the company’s reputation as a licensed and regulated online broker by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. ConnextFX operates in the Seychelles and St. Vincent and the Grenadines under Connext LTD and Connext LLC. It is licensed by the Financial Services Authority and is a securities dealer.
Find out more about ConnextFX’s growth and Simon Andras as Group CEO.
LiquidityBook Strengthens Team by Hiring New President
Jason Morris, the new president of LiquidityBook – a cloud-native provider of buy- and sell-side trading solutions – has strengthened his leadership team. This strategic move is in line with the company’s current growth strategy. In his new role, Morris will be the face of the company and will be responsible for expanding market presence and maintaining key partnerships.
Morris has over 15 years of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge to LiquidityBook. Prior to his current role, Morris was Head of Operations & Payments at Otttimate – an AP automation AI provider. Morris also spent eight years at Enfusion, an investment management technology provider. Enfusion was the highlight of his Enfusion career. He became president.
Under his leadership, LiquidityBook aims to further improve its portfolio, order management system and embedded FIX networks. The company recently released LBX PMS 2.0 – an improved portfolio management and accounting system.
Learn more about LiquidityBook’s strategic leadership appointment and its impact on financial technology.
Discover the most notable leadership changes in finance
This week’s roundup of leadership changes in various sectors of finance highlights significant changes. The departure of Tony Lim, CEO of IG Asia, to Equiti Group’s appointment of Sophie Squillacioti as head of sales in Asia Pacific. These changes reflect the dynamics of the financial industry ider. Robert J. Van Eyden becomes CEO of Scope Markets South Africa.
Eurex also appointed Robbert Booij as CEO amid Brexit uncertainty, while former British chancellor George Osborne joined Coinbase’s advisory board, demonstrating the intersection between traditional finance and cryptocurrency. Christopher Nelson-Smith is now Head of Trading and Operations at Blueberry Markets and Simon Andras has been appointed Group CEO of ConnextFX. Jason Morris, President of LiquidityBook, joins the team. These changes demonstrate the industry’s commitment to growth and adapting to changing landscapes.
These appointments demonstrate the industry’s commitment to expansion and compliance with regulatory standards. Stay tuned for our weekly roundup of notable “Leadership Moves of the Week,” where we bring you insights and updates on dynamic areas like finance, cryptocurrency and fintech.
