Significant executive moves that dominated headlines this week came from the fintech, investment banking, regulatory, forex, proprietary trading, and capital market sectors.
This week, there was a slight uptick in notable executive
hires, promotions, and departures compared to last week. In this exclusive
coverage, we focus on the notable moves in fintech, investment banking,
regulatory, forex, proprietary trading, and capital market sectors.
LMAX onboarded a new Managing Director to spearhead growth
strategy; Saxo appointed Andrew Bresler as UK CEO; CySEC named Panikkos Vakkou
Vice-Chairman; Muinmos tapped Ex-LEGO veteran to its board; The Trading
Pit's Group Chief Marketing Officer, Themis Christou Departed; FinCom bolstered
DRC by Onboarding FastMT CEO; Stephanie Eckermann to leads Deutsche Börse's new
Post-Trading Division.
Dive into our exciting coverage of executive moves in
fintech, investment banking, regulatory, forex, proprietary trading, and
capital market sectors.
Executive Moves of the Week
LMAX Onboards New Managing Director to Spearhead
Growth Strategy
LMAX Group appointed Chris Knight as Managing
Director. Knight, an experienced financial market professional with over 30
years of industry experience, will relocate from Sydney to London to assume his
position at the operator of institutional exchanges for FX and digital assets
trading.
Chris Knight, Source: LinkedIn
Initially, Knight will oversee the operations and
future growth strategy of LMAX Digital, the institutional cryptocurrency
exchange operated by LMAX Group. His career includes notable positions such as
APAC Head of Distribution and Liquidity Optimization at XTX Markets and over a
decade at Standard Chartered Bank, where he was responsible for the bank's
e-commerce strategy across FX, Rates, and Credit.
Saxo onboarded Andrew Bresler as the CEO of Saxo
UK, effective June 3. He will succeed Simon Camilleri, who has been serving as
interim CEO. Bresler has extensive experience in the financial sector. He was a
significant member of Saxo's APAC leadership team and held the position of
Deputy Head of Sales Trading in Singapore from 2016 to 2018. During this
period, he focused on expanding the bank's client base in the APAC region.
Andrew Bresler, Source: LinkedIn
Besides that, Bresler was the Regional Head of
Brokerage, Portfolio Finance, and Digital Investments for Asia and EMEA at
Citibank. Most recently, he held various leadership roles at InvestCloud, where
he contributed to regional growth and managed daily operations from Singapore
across APAC.
CySEC Appoints Panikkos Vakkou as New Vice-Chairman
Cyprus' government named Panikkos Vakkou as the
Vice-Chairman of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Vakkou
joined the regulator's seven-member executive board earlier this year. Giorgos
Karatzias, who held the position of Vice-Chairman, was recently appointed as
the Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Cyprus.
Vakkou is also the Director of Operations and Credit Risk Manager at Haogen
Technologies and a CFA charter-holder.
Panikkos Vakkou, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, Lambertides, a professor of finance in
the Department of Commerce, Finance, and Shipping at the Cyprus University of
Technology, joined the board following Karatzias' exit. Since the beginning of
his career, Lambertides has been part of the academic fraternity.
"Critical to Future Growth": Muinmos Adds
Ex-LEGO Veteran to Its Board
Muinmos, a regulatory technology firm focusing on
financial services, welcomed Anders Kirketerp-Møller to its board.
Kirketerp-Møller will focus on growth strategy and advising the leadership
team, including the board. He joined Muinmos' board from LEGO, the Danish
construction toy company, where he dedicated almost seven years as board chair.
Anders Kirketerp-Møller, Source: LinkedIn
Prior to LEGO, Kirketerp-Møller led operations at
VELUX Foundations, and served as Director in VKR Holding, the holding company
of VELUX. He dedicated five and a half years at Danish Industries, a private
business and employers' organization representing more than 20,000 companies in
Denmark.
The Trading Pit's Group Chief Marketing Officer,
Themis Christou, Departs
Proprietary trading firm The Trading Pit bid farewell
to Chief Marketing Officer Themis Christou, who held the position for two years
after joining the firm from M4Markets. Previously, The Havard University
alumnae served in various roles at Tickmill, including Senior Marketing
Specialist, Group Marketing Project Manager, Global Head of Marketing Projects,
and later Interim CMO.
Themis Christou, Source: LinkedIn
Speaking about the transition, Christou mentioned:
"Looking ahead, I am thrilled to embark on an exciting new venture that
promises not only to leverage my skills but also to set new standards in the
industry. The details of this next chapter, which I will share soon, are poised
to make a significant impact." Recently, The Trading Pit announced
significant changes to its top leadership. Christoph Radecker, one of the
Co-Founders, and Thomas Heyden, the CEO of The Trading Pit's Liechtenstein Office,
exited the firm.
The Financial Commission (FinCom) appointed Aytugan Khafizov, the Founder and CEO of FastMT, to its Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). Khafizov's appointment marked the 37th since the DRC was founded in 2013.
Aytugan Khafizov, Source: LinkedIn
Earlier, Sam Low, the CEO of LiquidityFinder, joined
the Dispute Resolution Committee as its 34th industry expert since its
inception in 2013. With almost three decades of experience, Low led prominent
roles at Finalto, Bloomberg LP, and First Derivatives before founding
LiquidityFinder in 2018. His career spans from Bloomberg LP in 1997 to pivotal
positions at Integral Development Corporation and First Derivatives
Technologies.
Stephanie Eckermann to Lead Deutsche Börse's New
Post-Trading Division
Deutsche Börse AG appointed Stephanie Eckermann as a
new member of the Executive Board, effective June 1. Eckermann will lead the
newly established Post-Trading division, which integrates the Securities
Services and Fund Services operations with the post-trading service provider
Clearstream. Eckermann has served in the Deutsche Börse Group since 2020. She
currently holds the position of Managing Director, where she oversees Strategy
& Controls Post-Trading within the division led by the designated CEO, Stephan
Leithner.
Stephanie Eckermann, Source: LinkedIn
Commenting about the appointment, Martin Jetter, the
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG, said: "With
Eckermann, the Supervisory Board appointed a highly esteemed leader in our
company as a new member of the Executive Board. She has played a decisive role
in shaping Clearstream's business in recent years. We are convinced that
Eckermann will successfully develop the Group's post-trading businesses."
This week, there was a slight uptick in notable executive
hires, promotions, and departures compared to last week. In this exclusive
coverage, we focus on the notable moves in fintech, investment banking,
regulatory, forex, proprietary trading, and capital market sectors.
LMAX onboarded a new Managing Director to spearhead growth
strategy; Saxo appointed Andrew Bresler as UK CEO; CySEC named Panikkos Vakkou
Vice-Chairman; Muinmos tapped Ex-LEGO veteran to its board; The Trading
Pit's Group Chief Marketing Officer, Themis Christou Departed; FinCom bolstered
DRC by Onboarding FastMT CEO; Stephanie Eckermann to leads Deutsche Börse's new
Post-Trading Division.
Dive into our exciting coverage of executive moves in
fintech, investment banking, regulatory, forex, proprietary trading, and
capital market sectors.
Executive Moves of the Week
LMAX Onboards New Managing Director to Spearhead
Growth Strategy
LMAX Group appointed Chris Knight as Managing
Director. Knight, an experienced financial market professional with over 30
years of industry experience, will relocate from Sydney to London to assume his
position at the operator of institutional exchanges for FX and digital assets
trading.
Chris Knight, Source: LinkedIn
Initially, Knight will oversee the operations and
future growth strategy of LMAX Digital, the institutional cryptocurrency
exchange operated by LMAX Group. His career includes notable positions such as
APAC Head of Distribution and Liquidity Optimization at XTX Markets and over a
decade at Standard Chartered Bank, where he was responsible for the bank's
e-commerce strategy across FX, Rates, and Credit.
Saxo onboarded Andrew Bresler as the CEO of Saxo
UK, effective June 3. He will succeed Simon Camilleri, who has been serving as
interim CEO. Bresler has extensive experience in the financial sector. He was a
significant member of Saxo's APAC leadership team and held the position of
Deputy Head of Sales Trading in Singapore from 2016 to 2018. During this
period, he focused on expanding the bank's client base in the APAC region.
Andrew Bresler, Source: LinkedIn
Besides that, Bresler was the Regional Head of
Brokerage, Portfolio Finance, and Digital Investments for Asia and EMEA at
Citibank. Most recently, he held various leadership roles at InvestCloud, where
he contributed to regional growth and managed daily operations from Singapore
across APAC.
CySEC Appoints Panikkos Vakkou as New Vice-Chairman
Cyprus' government named Panikkos Vakkou as the
Vice-Chairman of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Vakkou
joined the regulator's seven-member executive board earlier this year. Giorgos
Karatzias, who held the position of Vice-Chairman, was recently appointed as
the Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Cyprus.
Vakkou is also the Director of Operations and Credit Risk Manager at Haogen
Technologies and a CFA charter-holder.
Panikkos Vakkou, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, Lambertides, a professor of finance in
the Department of Commerce, Finance, and Shipping at the Cyprus University of
Technology, joined the board following Karatzias' exit. Since the beginning of
his career, Lambertides has been part of the academic fraternity.
"Critical to Future Growth": Muinmos Adds
Ex-LEGO Veteran to Its Board
Muinmos, a regulatory technology firm focusing on
financial services, welcomed Anders Kirketerp-Møller to its board.
Kirketerp-Møller will focus on growth strategy and advising the leadership
team, including the board. He joined Muinmos' board from LEGO, the Danish
construction toy company, where he dedicated almost seven years as board chair.
Anders Kirketerp-Møller, Source: LinkedIn
Prior to LEGO, Kirketerp-Møller led operations at
VELUX Foundations, and served as Director in VKR Holding, the holding company
of VELUX. He dedicated five and a half years at Danish Industries, a private
business and employers' organization representing more than 20,000 companies in
Denmark.
The Trading Pit's Group Chief Marketing Officer,
Themis Christou, Departs
Proprietary trading firm The Trading Pit bid farewell
to Chief Marketing Officer Themis Christou, who held the position for two years
after joining the firm from M4Markets. Previously, The Havard University
alumnae served in various roles at Tickmill, including Senior Marketing
Specialist, Group Marketing Project Manager, Global Head of Marketing Projects,
and later Interim CMO.
Themis Christou, Source: LinkedIn
Speaking about the transition, Christou mentioned:
"Looking ahead, I am thrilled to embark on an exciting new venture that
promises not only to leverage my skills but also to set new standards in the
industry. The details of this next chapter, which I will share soon, are poised
to make a significant impact." Recently, The Trading Pit announced
significant changes to its top leadership. Christoph Radecker, one of the
Co-Founders, and Thomas Heyden, the CEO of The Trading Pit's Liechtenstein Office,
exited the firm.
The Financial Commission (FinCom) appointed Aytugan Khafizov, the Founder and CEO of FastMT, to its Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). Khafizov's appointment marked the 37th since the DRC was founded in 2013.
Aytugan Khafizov, Source: LinkedIn
Earlier, Sam Low, the CEO of LiquidityFinder, joined
the Dispute Resolution Committee as its 34th industry expert since its
inception in 2013. With almost three decades of experience, Low led prominent
roles at Finalto, Bloomberg LP, and First Derivatives before founding
LiquidityFinder in 2018. His career spans from Bloomberg LP in 1997 to pivotal
positions at Integral Development Corporation and First Derivatives
Technologies.
Stephanie Eckermann to Lead Deutsche Börse's New
Post-Trading Division
Deutsche Börse AG appointed Stephanie Eckermann as a
new member of the Executive Board, effective June 1. Eckermann will lead the
newly established Post-Trading division, which integrates the Securities
Services and Fund Services operations with the post-trading service provider
Clearstream. Eckermann has served in the Deutsche Börse Group since 2020. She
currently holds the position of Managing Director, where she oversees Strategy
& Controls Post-Trading within the division led by the designated CEO, Stephan
Leithner.
Stephanie Eckermann, Source: LinkedIn
Commenting about the appointment, Martin Jetter, the
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG, said: "With
Eckermann, the Supervisory Board appointed a highly esteemed leader in our
company as a new member of the Executive Board. She has played a decisive role
in shaping Clearstream's business in recent years. We are convinced that
Eckermann will successfully develop the Group's post-trading businesses."
Thomas Kareklas Joins BridgeWise to Lead Expansion Into CFD Broker Segment
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
