Investment Banker Matteo Cassina Joins Saxo Bank to Ramp-up Institutional Division
Saturday,11/01/2014|00:04GMTby
Adil Siddiqui
Saxo Bank’s steady approach to the vibrant institutional sector has been bolstered by the appointment of the former President of Citadel Execution Services. The Danish bank that offers multi-asset trading solutions in financial instruments has selected Matteo Cassina as Global Head of Institutional Business in a newly created role which will be based in London. The move reinforces Saxo’s commitment in enhancing its position in the institutional trading environment.
Saxo Bank has been gradually improving its infrastructure to ensure it can compete in the complex institutional market which services, tier 1 and 2 banks, asset and fund managers and corporate clients. In a discussion with the CEO of Saxo Markets, the bank's UK arm, earlier this year, Forex Magnates learned that Saxo Bank has been focusing its resources in building the key infrastructure to support the needs of firms in the B2B sector. Torben Kaaber explained: “Earlier in 2013 we announced the launch of our Prime offering, we appreciate the requirements of the institutional market and have dedicated the right resources to build and deploy efficient systems, whether its connectivity or market structure.”
Matteo Cassina has been an active participant in investment banking for over 20 years. He has served in senior positions at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. Co-CEOs and co-founders, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen commented in a joint statement: "The appointment of a Global Head of Institutional Business is a major strategic step for Saxo Bank. Matteo brings considerable experience and senior market presence, which will prove invaluable as we continue to grow our business rapidly in both the institutional and private retail space. We are proud to have Matteo Cassina on board to drive the institutional growth out of London.”
Advancements in technology have reduced the gap between pure retail and institutional brokers. In addition, firms in the broking sector are technology centric and generally have a head start against banks when deploying and reacting to new initiatives in the e-trading landscape. Mr. Cassina appreciates the positive role technology can play as a key differentiator, he explained in a statement: "I worked for traditional investment banks for almost two decades and feel extremely excited about the opportunity to leverage the latest technology to empower our clients to engage with the markets in an innovative new environment. My last 20 years have been about banking; the next will be about applying radical new technology within the investment banking sector."
Saxo Bank was one of the first brokers to launch a multi-asset electronic Trading Platform pre-millenium. The firm launched its benchmark Saxo Trader in 1998. A person close to the firm informed Forex Magnates that the developers and programmers of the first generation of the trading terminal were Russian specialists who had vast experience in the development of sophisticated systems including defence systems. Saxo Bank boasts an IT team exceeding 300 and has spent over $275 million on IT infrastructure, management and maintenance over the last few years, according to its website.
Mr. Fournais and Mr. Christensen added: "Having refined our award-winning multi-asset trading platform for many years, we are approaching the tipping point where traditional players with old mainframe infrastructures are becoming less competitive. Saxo's cloud-based solution is disrupting the old ways of doing business in the same way that we have seen technology radically change other industries."
Saxo Bank has been active among the buy-side, with several clients including Mercury Forex and Insch Capital Management, two Swiss fund managers. However, through the new appointment of an ex-Cital President it's evident that the bank is keen to target the large managers with AUM of $500 million plus.
Saxo Bank was crowned Best Broker and Best Proprietary Platform at the recent Forex Magnates 2013 Award Ceremony held in London in November.
Saxo Bank’s steady approach to the vibrant institutional sector has been bolstered by the appointment of the former President of Citadel Execution Services. The Danish bank that offers multi-asset trading solutions in financial instruments has selected Matteo Cassina as Global Head of Institutional Business in a newly created role which will be based in London. The move reinforces Saxo’s commitment in enhancing its position in the institutional trading environment.
Saxo Bank has been gradually improving its infrastructure to ensure it can compete in the complex institutional market which services, tier 1 and 2 banks, asset and fund managers and corporate clients. In a discussion with the CEO of Saxo Markets, the bank's UK arm, earlier this year, Forex Magnates learned that Saxo Bank has been focusing its resources in building the key infrastructure to support the needs of firms in the B2B sector. Torben Kaaber explained: “Earlier in 2013 we announced the launch of our Prime offering, we appreciate the requirements of the institutional market and have dedicated the right resources to build and deploy efficient systems, whether its connectivity or market structure.”
Matteo Cassina has been an active participant in investment banking for over 20 years. He has served in senior positions at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. Co-CEOs and co-founders, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen commented in a joint statement: "The appointment of a Global Head of Institutional Business is a major strategic step for Saxo Bank. Matteo brings considerable experience and senior market presence, which will prove invaluable as we continue to grow our business rapidly in both the institutional and private retail space. We are proud to have Matteo Cassina on board to drive the institutional growth out of London.”
Advancements in technology have reduced the gap between pure retail and institutional brokers. In addition, firms in the broking sector are technology centric and generally have a head start against banks when deploying and reacting to new initiatives in the e-trading landscape. Mr. Cassina appreciates the positive role technology can play as a key differentiator, he explained in a statement: "I worked for traditional investment banks for almost two decades and feel extremely excited about the opportunity to leverage the latest technology to empower our clients to engage with the markets in an innovative new environment. My last 20 years have been about banking; the next will be about applying radical new technology within the investment banking sector."
Saxo Bank was one of the first brokers to launch a multi-asset electronic Trading Platform pre-millenium. The firm launched its benchmark Saxo Trader in 1998. A person close to the firm informed Forex Magnates that the developers and programmers of the first generation of the trading terminal were Russian specialists who had vast experience in the development of sophisticated systems including defence systems. Saxo Bank boasts an IT team exceeding 300 and has spent over $275 million on IT infrastructure, management and maintenance over the last few years, according to its website.
Mr. Fournais and Mr. Christensen added: "Having refined our award-winning multi-asset trading platform for many years, we are approaching the tipping point where traditional players with old mainframe infrastructures are becoming less competitive. Saxo's cloud-based solution is disrupting the old ways of doing business in the same way that we have seen technology radically change other industries."
Saxo Bank has been active among the buy-side, with several clients including Mercury Forex and Insch Capital Management, two Swiss fund managers. However, through the new appointment of an ex-Cital President it's evident that the bank is keen to target the large managers with AUM of $500 million plus.
Saxo Bank was crowned Best Broker and Best Proprietary Platform at the recent Forex Magnates 2013 Award Ceremony held in London in November.
Retail Broker FXTRADING Appoints Institutional Veteran Adam Phillips as CEO
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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
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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:
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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:
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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
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🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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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
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🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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-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
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🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
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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?
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Speakers:
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-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
