Trading 212’s Chairman, Andrew Bole, departed, while Bakkt named Akshay Naheta as co-CEO.
Meanwhile, TrioMarkets' Former CEO Catharine Ioannou joined YaMarkets, among other major executive moves making headlines this week.
Among the key executive changes making headlines this week: Former BDSwiss CMO Achilleas Achilleos joined Alchemy Markets; Trading 212’s Chairman Andrew Bole exited the firm, as Spotware Systems’ Chief Product Officer Denis Kiselev also departed the company.
Besides that, Bakkt named Akshay Naheta co-CEO; Swissquote's CSMO was elected President of the Swiss Advertisers Association (SWA); TrioMarkets' Former CEO Natasha Kassar joined YaMarkets; and HR Expert Catharine Ioannou moved to a new CFD Broker, Kudotrade.
Former BDSwiss CMO Joins Alchemy Markets
Achilleas Achilleos, who left the Cyprus offices of BDSwiss during a mass staff exodus last year, joined Alchemy Markets as Chief Marketing Officer, Finance Magnates learned exclusively. Achilleos took on the new role six months ago, just after leaving BDSwiss.
Achilleas Achilleos
He brings nearly two decades of marketing experience to the broker, having previously held a similar role as Chief Marketing Officer at BDSwiss for over two years. Alchemy Markets is a forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) broker regulated in Seychelles and Malta.
Trading 212 also announced leadership changes. Non-executive Chairman Andrew Bole stepped down from his role. His resignation, announced by the UK Companies House this week, marks the end of a four-and-a-half-year tenure at the retail online broker.
Andrew Bole, Source: LinkedIn
Bole has been the Non-Executive Chairman of Trading 212 since 2020, overseeing its growth in multiple international markets. Before joining the company, he built a strong reputation in the financial industry, holding key leadership roles across various firms.
Elsewhere, Denis Kiselev stepped down from his role as Chief Product Officer at Spotware Systems, the provider of cTrader, after more than a year. Kiselev joined the technology provider in January 2024.
Denis Kiselev, Source: LinkedIn
At Spotware, he reportedly led product strategy and development for cTrader, a popular third-party trading platform used by dozens of retail brokers. According to the company, cTrader handles over $20 billion in daily trading volume.
Bakkt appointed Akshay Naheta as co-CEO alongside Andy Main and announced a partnership with Distributed Technologies Research (DTR). This collaboration aims to integrate stablecoin payments with Bakkt’s existing trading infrastructure, potentially reshaping cross-border transactions in the digital asset space.
Akshay Naheta, Source: LinkedIn
Naheta is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in finance and technology. He reportedly assumed his new role this week. His background includes senior positions at SoftBank, where he played a key role in investments involving ARM, Auto1, and Nvidia.
Swissquote's CSMO to Lead Swiss Advertisers Association
Jan De Schepper, the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Swissquote, became the new President of the Swiss Advertisers Association (SWA). With extensive experience in branding and marketing, he is expected to lead the association “into a new era of innovation and advocacy.”
Jan De Schepper, Source: LinkedIn
As President, De Schepper is expected to focus on modernizing advertising strategies and strengthening the voice of Swiss advertisers. The industry faces challenges such as digital transformation, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behaviors.
In other news, Natasha Kassar announced her new position as Regional Sales Manager at YaMarkets. Previously, she worked at TrioMarkets MENA as Chief Executive Officer for over two years, based in Dubai.
Natasha Kassar, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, Kassar worked as Head of Business Development on a freelance basis for about six months. Before that, she held the role of Head of the MENA Region at EverestCM for three months and served as Head of Business Development for about seven months.
HR Expert Catharine Ioannou Joins New CFD Broker Kudotrade
Lastly, Kudotrade appointed Catharine Ioannou as its new Global Head of Human Resources. In the new role, she will bring years of experience gained in similar positions at BDSwiss and SquaredFinancial.
Catharine Ioannou, Source: LinkedIn
Ioannou, who previously held HR leadership positions at popular retail brokerages located in Cyprus, will oversee Kudotrade's global talent strategy and workplace culture initiatives. Her appointment comes as the broker, which operates in over 130 countries, works to scale its operations.
Among the key executive changes making headlines this week: Former BDSwiss CMO Achilleas Achilleos joined Alchemy Markets; Trading 212’s Chairman Andrew Bole exited the firm, as Spotware Systems’ Chief Product Officer Denis Kiselev also departed the company.
Besides that, Bakkt named Akshay Naheta co-CEO; Swissquote's CSMO was elected President of the Swiss Advertisers Association (SWA); TrioMarkets' Former CEO Natasha Kassar joined YaMarkets; and HR Expert Catharine Ioannou moved to a new CFD Broker, Kudotrade.
Former BDSwiss CMO Joins Alchemy Markets
Achilleas Achilleos, who left the Cyprus offices of BDSwiss during a mass staff exodus last year, joined Alchemy Markets as Chief Marketing Officer, Finance Magnates learned exclusively. Achilleos took on the new role six months ago, just after leaving BDSwiss.
Achilleas Achilleos
He brings nearly two decades of marketing experience to the broker, having previously held a similar role as Chief Marketing Officer at BDSwiss for over two years. Alchemy Markets is a forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) broker regulated in Seychelles and Malta.
Trading 212 also announced leadership changes. Non-executive Chairman Andrew Bole stepped down from his role. His resignation, announced by the UK Companies House this week, marks the end of a four-and-a-half-year tenure at the retail online broker.
Andrew Bole, Source: LinkedIn
Bole has been the Non-Executive Chairman of Trading 212 since 2020, overseeing its growth in multiple international markets. Before joining the company, he built a strong reputation in the financial industry, holding key leadership roles across various firms.
Elsewhere, Denis Kiselev stepped down from his role as Chief Product Officer at Spotware Systems, the provider of cTrader, after more than a year. Kiselev joined the technology provider in January 2024.
Denis Kiselev, Source: LinkedIn
At Spotware, he reportedly led product strategy and development for cTrader, a popular third-party trading platform used by dozens of retail brokers. According to the company, cTrader handles over $20 billion in daily trading volume.
Bakkt appointed Akshay Naheta as co-CEO alongside Andy Main and announced a partnership with Distributed Technologies Research (DTR). This collaboration aims to integrate stablecoin payments with Bakkt’s existing trading infrastructure, potentially reshaping cross-border transactions in the digital asset space.
Akshay Naheta, Source: LinkedIn
Naheta is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in finance and technology. He reportedly assumed his new role this week. His background includes senior positions at SoftBank, where he played a key role in investments involving ARM, Auto1, and Nvidia.
Swissquote's CSMO to Lead Swiss Advertisers Association
Jan De Schepper, the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Swissquote, became the new President of the Swiss Advertisers Association (SWA). With extensive experience in branding and marketing, he is expected to lead the association “into a new era of innovation and advocacy.”
Jan De Schepper, Source: LinkedIn
As President, De Schepper is expected to focus on modernizing advertising strategies and strengthening the voice of Swiss advertisers. The industry faces challenges such as digital transformation, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behaviors.
In other news, Natasha Kassar announced her new position as Regional Sales Manager at YaMarkets. Previously, she worked at TrioMarkets MENA as Chief Executive Officer for over two years, based in Dubai.
Natasha Kassar, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, Kassar worked as Head of Business Development on a freelance basis for about six months. Before that, she held the role of Head of the MENA Region at EverestCM for three months and served as Head of Business Development for about seven months.
HR Expert Catharine Ioannou Joins New CFD Broker Kudotrade
Lastly, Kudotrade appointed Catharine Ioannou as its new Global Head of Human Resources. In the new role, she will bring years of experience gained in similar positions at BDSwiss and SquaredFinancial.
Catharine Ioannou, Source: LinkedIn
Ioannou, who previously held HR leadership positions at popular retail brokerages located in Cyprus, will oversee Kudotrade's global talent strategy and workplace culture initiatives. Her appointment comes as the broker, which operates in over 130 countries, works to scale its operations.
Retail Broker FXTRADING Appoints Institutional Veteran Adam Phillips as CEO
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
