CMC Markets Appoints Emma Earp to Board

Tuesday, 24/03/2026 | 10:24 GMT by Damian Chmiel
  • Foot Anstey banking law partner joins with two decades of experience in finance transactions.
  • The new non-executive director takes a seat on four committees as CMC continues board refresh.
emma

CMC Markets has named Emma Earp, a banking and finance partner at national law firm Foot Anstey LLP, as a non-executive director of the London-listed online trading group. The appointment takes effect April 1, 2026, the company said today (Tuesday).

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Earp will simultaneously join the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration, and Risk Committees, giving her broad oversight responsibilities across CMC Markets' governance structure from day one.

Legal Career Rooted in City Banking

Earp began her legal career at Travers Smith LLP, one of the leading City firms, where she trained as a solicitor and spent six years in the banking and finance department before qualifying. She then joined Bond Dickinson LLP, which later became Womble Bond Dickinson, accumulating nearly eight years there and rising to managing associate.

A partnership role at regional firm Trethowans followed from January 2019 through September 2023, after which she moved to Foot Anstey as a banking and finance partner. Her practice spans acquisition finance, property finance, project finance, and general corporate lending, according to her firm profile.

Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets
Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets

"We are very pleased to welcome Emma to the Board,” Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets, said. "Her depth of experience gained while acting as a senior legal advisor will be of great benefit to the Group as we continue to deliver on our strategy."

The CMC Markets press release puts her experience in banking and finance transactions at over 15 years, though her professional record at Travers Smith dates to September 2004, spanning more than two decades in finance law overall.

Board Refreshed Across Multiple Roles

The Earp appointment continues a run of governance and executive changes at the group. In November 2025, CMC Markets brought in Stuart Manning, a partner and CFO at private equity firm Endeavour Vision SA, as a non-executive director and chair of the Group Audit Committee, filling out the board with venture capital and regulatory supervision experience.

Around the same time, CMC Markets ended a nine-month search for a UK chief financial officer by promoting Asia Pacific CFO John Cubbin internally to the top UK finance role.

Personnel moves have extended beyond the boardroom. In January 2025, the company appointed Christopher Forbes as Head of Asia, consolidating the role across its CMC Markets, CMC Invest, and CMC Connect brands as the group pursues growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The group has also seen departures, with a former compliance head who worked across both Plus500 and CMC Markets joining Ultima Markets as chief strategy officer in August 2025.

Strong Revenue Backdrop

CMC Markets' board activity comes as the company reports solid financial results. The group posted underlying EBITDA of £103.4 million for fiscal year 2025, up 12% year on year, with profit before tax rising 33% to £84.5 million.

Revenue for the first half of fiscal 2026, covering April through September 2025, reached £186.2 million, up 14% from the prior half-year period. Management said at the time it expected full-year net operating income to come in roughly 10% ahead of market expectations.

CMC Markets has named Emma Earp, a banking and finance partner at national law firm Foot Anstey LLP, as a non-executive director of the London-listed online trading group. The appointment takes effect April 1, 2026, the company said today (Tuesday).

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Earp will simultaneously join the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration, and Risk Committees, giving her broad oversight responsibilities across CMC Markets' governance structure from day one.

Legal Career Rooted in City Banking

Earp began her legal career at Travers Smith LLP, one of the leading City firms, where she trained as a solicitor and spent six years in the banking and finance department before qualifying. She then joined Bond Dickinson LLP, which later became Womble Bond Dickinson, accumulating nearly eight years there and rising to managing associate.

A partnership role at regional firm Trethowans followed from January 2019 through September 2023, after which she moved to Foot Anstey as a banking and finance partner. Her practice spans acquisition finance, property finance, project finance, and general corporate lending, according to her firm profile.

Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets
Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets

"We are very pleased to welcome Emma to the Board,” Paul Wainscott, chairman of CMC Markets, said. "Her depth of experience gained while acting as a senior legal advisor will be of great benefit to the Group as we continue to deliver on our strategy."

The CMC Markets press release puts her experience in banking and finance transactions at over 15 years, though her professional record at Travers Smith dates to September 2004, spanning more than two decades in finance law overall.

Board Refreshed Across Multiple Roles

The Earp appointment continues a run of governance and executive changes at the group. In November 2025, CMC Markets brought in Stuart Manning, a partner and CFO at private equity firm Endeavour Vision SA, as a non-executive director and chair of the Group Audit Committee, filling out the board with venture capital and regulatory supervision experience.

Around the same time, CMC Markets ended a nine-month search for a UK chief financial officer by promoting Asia Pacific CFO John Cubbin internally to the top UK finance role.

Personnel moves have extended beyond the boardroom. In January 2025, the company appointed Christopher Forbes as Head of Asia, consolidating the role across its CMC Markets, CMC Invest, and CMC Connect brands as the group pursues growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The group has also seen departures, with a former compliance head who worked across both Plus500 and CMC Markets joining Ultima Markets as chief strategy officer in August 2025.

Strong Revenue Backdrop

CMC Markets' board activity comes as the company reports solid financial results. The group posted underlying EBITDA of £103.4 million for fiscal year 2025, up 12% year on year, with profit before tax rising 33% to £84.5 million.

Revenue for the first half of fiscal 2026, covering April through September 2025, reached £186.2 million, up 14% from the prior half-year period. Management said at the time it expected full-year net operating income to come in roughly 10% ahead of market expectations.

About the Author: Damian Chmiel
Damian Chmiel
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About the Author: Damian Chmiel
Damian Chmiel is a Senior Analyst & Editor at Finance Magnates with more than 15 years of experience in the CFD and online trading industry. Active as both a trader and journalist since 2010, he focuses on broker coverage, fintech innovation, and regulatory developments across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His work includes interviews with C-level leaders at major brokerages and fintech platforms, as well as co-authoring Finance Magnates’ quarterly industry benchmarking reports. Damian’s reporting is data-driven, market-aware, and grounded in direct industry engagement. His analysis and commentary have also been cited by external media outlets, including Investing.com, Binance, The Asset, Stockhead, and Dispatch. Education: MA in Finance and Accounting, Cracow University of Economics
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