CFI, Saxo UK, Virtu Financial, and More: Executive Moves of the Week

Sunday, 03/08/2025 | 04:00 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • In a busy week for executive moves, Your Bourse Co-Founder Elina Pedersen stepped in as the new CEO.
  • Neomarkets Group also has a new CEO from SquaredFinancial, among other leadership changes across the industry.
Executive Move

CFI promotes Omar Khaled to CMO

One notable executive move this week involved CFI Financial Group appointing Omar Khaled as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Khaled had previously served as the company’s Global Director of Marketing, where he focused on shaping CFI’s international marketing strategy.

Omar Khaled

In his new position as CMO, Khaled will take charge of leading CFI’s global marketing operations. His key responsibilities encompassed brand management, digital marketing, performance tracking, and managing client communications across all the company’s markets.

Learn more about CFI's promotion of Omar Khaled to the CMO role.

Saxo UK’s CCO moves to ADSS

At the same time, ADSS named Dan Squires as its new Chief Commercial Officer, strengthening the leadership team at the Abu Dhabi-based brokerage. Squires previously worked at Saxo Bank’s UK arm, where he also served as Chief Commercial Officer.

Dan Squires, Source: LinkedIn

Squires spent just over two years at Saxo Bank in London. He initially joined as Head of Sales before being promoted to the CCO position.

Show more about Saxo Bank UK, Dan Squires' move for the role of CCO at ADSS.

Virtu Financial promotes CTO Aaron Simons to CEO

Virtu Financial, Inc. appointed Aaron Simons as its new Chief Executive Officer and joined the company’s Board of Directors. Simons succeeded Douglas Cifu, who retired as CEO but stayed on as an advisor to the company.

Aaron Simons had been with Virtu since 2008. He most recently held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. In the second quarter of 2025, Virtu Financial reported a net income of $293 million and total revenues of $999.6 million.

Learn more about Virtu Financial's promotion of CTO Aaron Simons.

Your Bourse Co-Founder becomes CEO

Your Bourse announced several leadership changes, including the appointment of Elina Pedersen as its new Chief Executive Officer. Pedersen, a co-founder of the company, had previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for more than nine years.

Elina Pedersen, Source: LinkedIn

She succeeded Andrey Vedikhin, the company’s co-founder and majority owner, who stepped down as CEO after leading the firm since its launch and transitioned to Chairman of the Board.

Discover more about the leadership changes at Your Bourse.

Yuh CEO Markus Schwab departs

Also this week, Markus Schwab stepped down as CEO of Yuh after serving in the role for four years. Following his exit, Schwab joined Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB) to lead their new IT Management.

Markus Schwab, Source: LinkedIn

This leadership change followed Swissquote’s acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Yuh from PostFinance, giving Swissquote full ownership of the digital finance platform. Yuh was originally launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Swissquote and PostFinance.

Highlight more about the leadership changes at Yuh.

Neomarkets Group has a new CEO from SquaredFinancial

Dominique El Khoury announced his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Neomarkets Group Ltd. Neomarkets Group Ltd is a financial firm licensed in the United Arab Emirates and operates under the NEO Markets brand.

Dominique El Khoury, Source: LinkedIn

Prior to this role, El Khoury served as the Global Head of Business Development for the Middle East and Africa at SquaredFinancial. He held that position for two years while based in Dubai.

Display more about Neomarkets' appointment of Dominique El Khoury as new CEO.

IG’s Risk and Control Head departs

Amit Naker, IG’s Risk and Control Head, departed after nearly two decades. During his time at IG, Naker held multiple leadership roles in technology and operations. Since June 2020, he served as Head of Technology Risk and Control.

Amit Naker, Source: LinkedIn

Prior to his last role, Naker was Head of Service Operations for almost four years, where he helped establish a Security Operations function.

Learn more about the exit of IG's Risk and Control Head.

FYNXT hires StoneX Veteran Camila Pinto

In Singapore, FYNXT appointed Camila Pinto as the Commercial Director for the UK and LATAM regions. In this role, Pinto will focus on client acquisition and driving business growth across these markets.

Camila Pinto, Source: LinkedIn

Pinto brings over 15 years of experience from StoneX Group, where she held various leadership roles, including Vice President for Clearing and Execution Sales.

Display more about FYNXT's appointment of Camila Pinto as the Commercial Director for the UK and LATAM regions.

Crypto.com Taps Coinbase's Former Exec as VP Capital Markets for Europe

In the crypto space, Crypto.com enlisted Louis Hawila as Vice President of Capital Markets for Europe. Based in Cyprus, Hawila joins Crypto.com after serving as CEO of CTCAP, a brokerage catering to professional investors across Europe.

Louis Hawila, Source: LinkedIn

Hawila’s experience also includes a non-executive directorship at Coinbase’s Cypriot-licensed entity, along with positions at other financial firms.

Check more about Crypto.com's new VP Capital Markets for Europe.

Brokeree Solutions' Head of Marketing exits

Anton Sokolov, the Head of Marketing at financial technology firm Brokeree Solutions, is stepping down after nearly eight years with the company. The company appointed Arina Sharagina, the current PR Manager, to take over the marketing leadership.

Anton Sokolov and Arina Sharagina

During his tenure, Sokolov played a key role in promoting the firm’s technology services for retail trading brokers that utilize platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and dxTrade.

Show more about the departure of Brokeree Solution's Head of Marketing.

Former Goldman exec becomes CEO of AccessFintech

Finally, AccessFintech appointed Sarah Shenton, a former Goldman Sachs executive, as its new CEO effective immediately. Shenton led Goldman Sachs' Series A investment in AccessFintech and served on its board from 2018 until 2025.

Sarah Shenton

With over 20 years of experience in operations and strategic investing, Shenton previously led the Value Accelerator program at Goldman Sachs’ alternative assets business. She succeeds John Shay.

Learn more about the new CEO of AccessFintech.

CFI promotes Omar Khaled to CMO

One notable executive move this week involved CFI Financial Group appointing Omar Khaled as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Khaled had previously served as the company’s Global Director of Marketing, where he focused on shaping CFI’s international marketing strategy.

Omar Khaled

In his new position as CMO, Khaled will take charge of leading CFI’s global marketing operations. His key responsibilities encompassed brand management, digital marketing, performance tracking, and managing client communications across all the company’s markets.

Learn more about CFI's promotion of Omar Khaled to the CMO role.

Saxo UK’s CCO moves to ADSS

At the same time, ADSS named Dan Squires as its new Chief Commercial Officer, strengthening the leadership team at the Abu Dhabi-based brokerage. Squires previously worked at Saxo Bank’s UK arm, where he also served as Chief Commercial Officer.

Dan Squires, Source: LinkedIn

Squires spent just over two years at Saxo Bank in London. He initially joined as Head of Sales before being promoted to the CCO position.

Show more about Saxo Bank UK, Dan Squires' move for the role of CCO at ADSS.

Virtu Financial promotes CTO Aaron Simons to CEO

Virtu Financial, Inc. appointed Aaron Simons as its new Chief Executive Officer and joined the company’s Board of Directors. Simons succeeded Douglas Cifu, who retired as CEO but stayed on as an advisor to the company.

Aaron Simons had been with Virtu since 2008. He most recently held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. In the second quarter of 2025, Virtu Financial reported a net income of $293 million and total revenues of $999.6 million.

Learn more about Virtu Financial's promotion of CTO Aaron Simons.

Your Bourse Co-Founder becomes CEO

Your Bourse announced several leadership changes, including the appointment of Elina Pedersen as its new Chief Executive Officer. Pedersen, a co-founder of the company, had previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for more than nine years.

Elina Pedersen, Source: LinkedIn

She succeeded Andrey Vedikhin, the company’s co-founder and majority owner, who stepped down as CEO after leading the firm since its launch and transitioned to Chairman of the Board.

Discover more about the leadership changes at Your Bourse.

Yuh CEO Markus Schwab departs

Also this week, Markus Schwab stepped down as CEO of Yuh after serving in the role for four years. Following his exit, Schwab joined Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB) to lead their new IT Management.

Markus Schwab, Source: LinkedIn

This leadership change followed Swissquote’s acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Yuh from PostFinance, giving Swissquote full ownership of the digital finance platform. Yuh was originally launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Swissquote and PostFinance.

Highlight more about the leadership changes at Yuh.

Neomarkets Group has a new CEO from SquaredFinancial

Dominique El Khoury announced his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Neomarkets Group Ltd. Neomarkets Group Ltd is a financial firm licensed in the United Arab Emirates and operates under the NEO Markets brand.

Dominique El Khoury, Source: LinkedIn

Prior to this role, El Khoury served as the Global Head of Business Development for the Middle East and Africa at SquaredFinancial. He held that position for two years while based in Dubai.

Display more about Neomarkets' appointment of Dominique El Khoury as new CEO.

IG’s Risk and Control Head departs

Amit Naker, IG’s Risk and Control Head, departed after nearly two decades. During his time at IG, Naker held multiple leadership roles in technology and operations. Since June 2020, he served as Head of Technology Risk and Control.

Amit Naker, Source: LinkedIn

Prior to his last role, Naker was Head of Service Operations for almost four years, where he helped establish a Security Operations function.

Learn more about the exit of IG's Risk and Control Head.

FYNXT hires StoneX Veteran Camila Pinto

In Singapore, FYNXT appointed Camila Pinto as the Commercial Director for the UK and LATAM regions. In this role, Pinto will focus on client acquisition and driving business growth across these markets.

Camila Pinto, Source: LinkedIn

Pinto brings over 15 years of experience from StoneX Group, where she held various leadership roles, including Vice President for Clearing and Execution Sales.

Display more about FYNXT's appointment of Camila Pinto as the Commercial Director for the UK and LATAM regions.

Crypto.com Taps Coinbase's Former Exec as VP Capital Markets for Europe

In the crypto space, Crypto.com enlisted Louis Hawila as Vice President of Capital Markets for Europe. Based in Cyprus, Hawila joins Crypto.com after serving as CEO of CTCAP, a brokerage catering to professional investors across Europe.

Louis Hawila, Source: LinkedIn

Hawila’s experience also includes a non-executive directorship at Coinbase’s Cypriot-licensed entity, along with positions at other financial firms.

Check more about Crypto.com's new VP Capital Markets for Europe.

Brokeree Solutions' Head of Marketing exits

Anton Sokolov, the Head of Marketing at financial technology firm Brokeree Solutions, is stepping down after nearly eight years with the company. The company appointed Arina Sharagina, the current PR Manager, to take over the marketing leadership.

Anton Sokolov and Arina Sharagina

During his tenure, Sokolov played a key role in promoting the firm’s technology services for retail trading brokers that utilize platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and dxTrade.

Show more about the departure of Brokeree Solution's Head of Marketing.

Former Goldman exec becomes CEO of AccessFintech

Finally, AccessFintech appointed Sarah Shenton, a former Goldman Sachs executive, as its new CEO effective immediately. Shenton led Goldman Sachs' Series A investment in AccessFintech and served on its board from 2018 until 2025.

Sarah Shenton

With over 20 years of experience in operations and strategic investing, Shenton previously led the Value Accelerator program at Goldman Sachs’ alternative assets business. She succeeds John Shay.

Learn more about the new CEO of AccessFintech.

About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2449 Articles
  • 50 Followers
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.
  • 2449 Articles
  • 50 Followers

More from the Author

Executives

!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|} !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}