Executive moves that dominated the week's news for the forex, crypto and fintech industries.
This week has seen less activity in executive appointments across the forex, crypto, and fintech sectors. This trend highlights the dynamic nature of financial technology, which is constantly evolving.
Recent executive moves in the financial industry highlight significant appointments and transitions shaping the sector. These are as follows: R3 welcomes Bob Wigley, former Chairman of Merrill Lynch EMEA, to its Board of Directors; iSAM Securities appoints Aaron Brown as Sales Director to strengthen its MENA presence; while TerraPay appoints Ruben Salazar Genovez as President; Liam Bonfield joins BidX Markets as Chief Finance Officer; and Valutrades bids farewell to Bonfield, departing from CFO after eight years of service.
These executive moves represent deliberate strategic changes and innovative initiatives fueling expansion and evolution within different sectors of the financial sector.
Dive into the vibrant world of executive shifts spanning forex, cryptocurrency, and fintech with our weekly roundup. Delve into the continuously changing scenery of leadership transitions within the financial technology sector.
Executive Moves of the Week
Robert Wigley. Source: LinkedIn
R3 Appoints Ex-Merrill Lynch Chairman to Accelerate Blockchain Adoption
R3, the enterprise blockchain company, welcomes Bob Wigley, the former Chairman of Merrill Lynch EMEA, to its Board of Directors. With his extensive experience, including leadership roles at UK Finance and past board positions at organizations like the Bank of England, Wigley brings invaluable expertise to drive R3's digital finance strategy. His appointment coincides with R3's launch of the R3 Digital Markets product suite, designed to facilitate the adoption of digital assets and currencies by financial institutions. Wigley's insight and industry connections are poised to bolster R3's efforts in digitizing global markets.
In addition to Wigley's appointment, R3 recently onboarded Kate Karimson as the Chief Commercial Officer, further strengthening its leadership team. The company's focus on innovation is evident with the launch of the R3 Digital Markets suite, leveraging the Corda platform to support the integration of digital assets into capital markets operations. With a commitment to fostering a connected financial world, R3 continues to drive advancements in distributed ledger technology, with recent collaborations aimed at propelling the growth of fintech sectors globally.
Display more about R3's strategic appointments and innovative solutions driving blockchain adoption in the financial industry.
iSAM Securities Bolsters MENA Team by Hiring Aaron Brown from IXO Prime
Aaron Brown. Source: LinkedIn
iSAM Securities has appointed Aaron Brown as Sales Director to bolster its presence in the Middle East and North African region (MENA). With over two decades of experience, Brown brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous roles, including Head of Institutional Sales MENA at IXO Prime. His extensive background in institutional sales and understanding of client requirements in the region position him well to support iSAM Securities' growth plans. Brown's appointment reflects the firm's commitment to delivering innovative products and services to clients globally.
Strengthening its leadership further, iSAM Securities recently promoted Samuel Johnson to Managing Director and Ryan Poole to Chief Investment Officer. Brown's addition to the team aligns with the company's ambitious growth strategy and underscores its dedication to providing exceptional service. With Brown's expertise and the recent executive promotions, iSAM Securities aims to capitalize on client demand in the MENA region while maintaining its high standards of quality and innovation.
TerraPay Taps Visa Direct's Former Head Ruben Salazar Genovez as President
TerraPay has appointed Ruben Salazar Genovez, the Former Global Head of Visa Direct, as its President. Genovez, with extensive experience in the payments industry at Visa, Citibank, Barclays, and Mastercard, brings valuable expertise to TerraPay. His appointment signals TerraPay's focus on expanding its presence in cross-border money movement and non-traditional payments.
Genovez's leadership is expected to drive global growth and strengthen TerraPay's position in the industry. TerraPay's collaboration with Papara and its recent acquisition of a Major Payment Institution license in Singapore underscore its commitment to facilitating seamless cross-border transactions.
TerraPay, headquartered in London, offers a single connection to a vast cross-border payments network, enabling global money movement. Partnering with Papara, a Turkish fintech company, TerraPay aims to meet the growing demand for cross-border money transfers in Turkey's rapidly expanding digital payments sector. With its recent licensing in Singapore, TerraPay enhances its global payment solutions, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving landscape of international money movement.
BidX Markets Taps Liam Bonfield as Chief Finance Officer
BidX Markets, a multi-asset liquidity and B2B trading technology provider, has appointed Liam Bonfield as its latest Chief Finance Officer. Bonfield, renowned for his financial expertise and strategic acumen, will lead BidX Markets in its financial endeavors, focusing on sustained growth and achievement. As the new CFO, Bonfield will oversee the entirety of BidX Markets' financial operations, including financial planning, reporting, and analysis.
Simon Blackledge, the Founder and CEO of BidX Markets, expressed his enthusiasm for Bonfield's addition to the executive team, citing his extensive expertise and strategic vision as instrumental in supporting BidX Markets' growth trajectory and enhancing its innovative trading solutions for brokers, family offices, or hedge funds. Amidst Bonfield's transition to BidX Markets, Valutrades, a retail brokerage based in London, confirmed his departure as Chief Financial Officer after eight years of service.
Valutrades’ CFO Liam Bonfield Departs after 8 Years
Valutrades, a London-headquartered retail brokerage, bids farewell to its Chief Financial Officer, Liam Bonfield, who steps down after eight years of service. Bonfield's future plans remain undisclosed. In his departing statement, he expressed confidence in the company's trajectory, citing recent investments in technology. Bonfield's tenure began in April 2016, following roles at GMO-Z.com and London Capital Group. Valutrades' CEO, Graeme Watkins, acknowledged Bonfield's contributions, emphasizing his pivotal role in the company's journey.
The departure coincides with ongoing rebranding efforts at Valutrades, fueled by fresh investments last October. Operating under licenses from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority and the Seychelles' regulator, Valutrades sustains trading services across various asset classes. While 2022 witnessed a substantial revenue increase for the UK entity, rising expenses impacted pre-tax profits. Bonfield's departure marks a transition period for Valutrades as it navigates both organizational changes and market dynamics.
This week has seen less activity in executive appointments across the forex, crypto, and fintech sectors. This trend highlights the dynamic nature of financial technology, which is constantly evolving.
Recent executive moves in the financial industry highlight significant appointments and transitions shaping the sector. These are as follows: R3 welcomes Bob Wigley, former Chairman of Merrill Lynch EMEA, to its Board of Directors; iSAM Securities appoints Aaron Brown as Sales Director to strengthen its MENA presence; while TerraPay appoints Ruben Salazar Genovez as President; Liam Bonfield joins BidX Markets as Chief Finance Officer; and Valutrades bids farewell to Bonfield, departing from CFO after eight years of service.
These executive moves represent deliberate strategic changes and innovative initiatives fueling expansion and evolution within different sectors of the financial sector.
Dive into the vibrant world of executive shifts spanning forex, cryptocurrency, and fintech with our weekly roundup. Delve into the continuously changing scenery of leadership transitions within the financial technology sector.
Executive Moves of the Week
Robert Wigley. Source: LinkedIn
R3 Appoints Ex-Merrill Lynch Chairman to Accelerate Blockchain Adoption
R3, the enterprise blockchain company, welcomes Bob Wigley, the former Chairman of Merrill Lynch EMEA, to its Board of Directors. With his extensive experience, including leadership roles at UK Finance and past board positions at organizations like the Bank of England, Wigley brings invaluable expertise to drive R3's digital finance strategy. His appointment coincides with R3's launch of the R3 Digital Markets product suite, designed to facilitate the adoption of digital assets and currencies by financial institutions. Wigley's insight and industry connections are poised to bolster R3's efforts in digitizing global markets.
In addition to Wigley's appointment, R3 recently onboarded Kate Karimson as the Chief Commercial Officer, further strengthening its leadership team. The company's focus on innovation is evident with the launch of the R3 Digital Markets suite, leveraging the Corda platform to support the integration of digital assets into capital markets operations. With a commitment to fostering a connected financial world, R3 continues to drive advancements in distributed ledger technology, with recent collaborations aimed at propelling the growth of fintech sectors globally.
Display more about R3's strategic appointments and innovative solutions driving blockchain adoption in the financial industry.
iSAM Securities Bolsters MENA Team by Hiring Aaron Brown from IXO Prime
Aaron Brown. Source: LinkedIn
iSAM Securities has appointed Aaron Brown as Sales Director to bolster its presence in the Middle East and North African region (MENA). With over two decades of experience, Brown brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous roles, including Head of Institutional Sales MENA at IXO Prime. His extensive background in institutional sales and understanding of client requirements in the region position him well to support iSAM Securities' growth plans. Brown's appointment reflects the firm's commitment to delivering innovative products and services to clients globally.
Strengthening its leadership further, iSAM Securities recently promoted Samuel Johnson to Managing Director and Ryan Poole to Chief Investment Officer. Brown's addition to the team aligns with the company's ambitious growth strategy and underscores its dedication to providing exceptional service. With Brown's expertise and the recent executive promotions, iSAM Securities aims to capitalize on client demand in the MENA region while maintaining its high standards of quality and innovation.
TerraPay Taps Visa Direct's Former Head Ruben Salazar Genovez as President
TerraPay has appointed Ruben Salazar Genovez, the Former Global Head of Visa Direct, as its President. Genovez, with extensive experience in the payments industry at Visa, Citibank, Barclays, and Mastercard, brings valuable expertise to TerraPay. His appointment signals TerraPay's focus on expanding its presence in cross-border money movement and non-traditional payments.
Genovez's leadership is expected to drive global growth and strengthen TerraPay's position in the industry. TerraPay's collaboration with Papara and its recent acquisition of a Major Payment Institution license in Singapore underscore its commitment to facilitating seamless cross-border transactions.
TerraPay, headquartered in London, offers a single connection to a vast cross-border payments network, enabling global money movement. Partnering with Papara, a Turkish fintech company, TerraPay aims to meet the growing demand for cross-border money transfers in Turkey's rapidly expanding digital payments sector. With its recent licensing in Singapore, TerraPay enhances its global payment solutions, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving landscape of international money movement.
BidX Markets Taps Liam Bonfield as Chief Finance Officer
BidX Markets, a multi-asset liquidity and B2B trading technology provider, has appointed Liam Bonfield as its latest Chief Finance Officer. Bonfield, renowned for his financial expertise and strategic acumen, will lead BidX Markets in its financial endeavors, focusing on sustained growth and achievement. As the new CFO, Bonfield will oversee the entirety of BidX Markets' financial operations, including financial planning, reporting, and analysis.
Simon Blackledge, the Founder and CEO of BidX Markets, expressed his enthusiasm for Bonfield's addition to the executive team, citing his extensive expertise and strategic vision as instrumental in supporting BidX Markets' growth trajectory and enhancing its innovative trading solutions for brokers, family offices, or hedge funds. Amidst Bonfield's transition to BidX Markets, Valutrades, a retail brokerage based in London, confirmed his departure as Chief Financial Officer after eight years of service.
Valutrades’ CFO Liam Bonfield Departs after 8 Years
Valutrades, a London-headquartered retail brokerage, bids farewell to its Chief Financial Officer, Liam Bonfield, who steps down after eight years of service. Bonfield's future plans remain undisclosed. In his departing statement, he expressed confidence in the company's trajectory, citing recent investments in technology. Bonfield's tenure began in April 2016, following roles at GMO-Z.com and London Capital Group. Valutrades' CEO, Graeme Watkins, acknowledged Bonfield's contributions, emphasizing his pivotal role in the company's journey.
The departure coincides with ongoing rebranding efforts at Valutrades, fueled by fresh investments last October. Operating under licenses from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority and the Seychelles' regulator, Valutrades sustains trading services across various asset classes. While 2022 witnessed a substantial revenue increase for the UK entity, rising expenses impacted pre-tax profits. Bonfield's departure marks a transition period for Valutrades as it navigates both organizational changes and market dynamics.
Coming from a background in English Education, Tom joined Finance Magnates in Autumn 2020, originally as a Content Specialist and Proofreader in his first year. Having completed three successful years with the FM News desk, he has since worked with the team as both an editor and a proofreader.
Previously, he spent almost two decades in the field of education, working around the globe at different institutions and companies, which has influenced him considerably after being immersed in various cultures and business environments.
Now fully developed in this field, he is relishing the challenge of constantly adapting to the ever-changing fintech industry and all the developments that arise.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and a higher diploma in English Teaching from Cambridge University.
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
Exness CMO Alfonso Cardalda on Cape Town office launch, Africa growth, and marketing strategy
Exness CMO Alfonso Cardalda on Cape Town office launch, Africa growth, and marketing strategy
Exness is expanding its presence in Africa, and in this exclusive interview, CMO Alfonso Cardalda shares how.
Filmed during the grand opening of Exness’s new Cape Town office, Alfonso sits down with Andrea Badiola Mateos from Finance Magnates to discuss:
- Exness’s marketing approach in South Africa
- What makes their trading product stand out
- Customer retention vs. acquisition strategies
- The role of local influencers
- Managing growth across emerging markets
👉 Watch the full interview for fundamental insights into the future of trading in Africa.
#Exness #Forex #Trading #SouthAfrica #CapeTown #Finance #FinanceMagnates
Exness is expanding its presence in Africa, and in this exclusive interview, CMO Alfonso Cardalda shares how.
Filmed during the grand opening of Exness’s new Cape Town office, Alfonso sits down with Andrea Badiola Mateos from Finance Magnates to discuss:
- Exness’s marketing approach in South Africa
- What makes their trading product stand out
- Customer retention vs. acquisition strategies
- The role of local influencers
- Managing growth across emerging markets
👉 Watch the full interview for fundamental insights into the future of trading in Africa.
#Exness #Forex #Trading #SouthAfrica #CapeTown #Finance #FinanceMagnates
How does the Finance Magnates newsroom handle sensitive updates that may affect a brand?
How does the Finance Magnates newsroom handle sensitive updates that may affect a brand?
Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, explains the approach: reaching out before publication, hearing all sides, and making careful, case-by-case decisions with balance and responsibility.
⚖ Balanced reporting
📞 Right of response
📰 Responsible journalism
#FinanceMagnates #FinancialJournalism #ResponsibleReporting #FinanceNews #EditorialStandards
Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, explains the approach: reaching out before publication, hearing all sides, and making careful, case-by-case decisions with balance and responsibility.
⚖ Balanced reporting
📞 Right of response
📰 Responsible journalism
#FinanceMagnates #FinancialJournalism #ResponsibleReporting #FinanceNews #EditorialStandards
Executive Interview | Kieran Duff | Head of UK Growth & Business Development, Darwinex | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Kieran Duff | Head of UK Growth & Business Development, Darwinex | FMLS:25
Here is our conversation with Kieran Duff, who brings a rare dual view of the market as both a broker and a trader at Darwinex.
We begin with his take on the Summit and then turn to broker growth. Kieran shares one quick, practical tip brokers can use right now to improve performance. We also cover the rising spotlight on prop trading and whether it is good or bad for the trading industry.
Kieran explains where Darwinex sits on the CFDs-broker-meets-funding spectrum, and how the model differs from the typical setups seen across the market.
We finish with a look at how he uses AI in his daily workflow — both inside the brokerage and in his own trading.
Here is our conversation with Kieran Duff, who brings a rare dual view of the market as both a broker and a trader at Darwinex.
We begin with his take on the Summit and then turn to broker growth. Kieran shares one quick, practical tip brokers can use right now to improve performance. We also cover the rising spotlight on prop trading and whether it is good or bad for the trading industry.
Kieran explains where Darwinex sits on the CFDs-broker-meets-funding spectrum, and how the model differs from the typical setups seen across the market.
We finish with a look at how he uses AI in his daily workflow — both inside the brokerage and in his own trading.
Why does trust matter in financial news? #TrustedNews #FinanceNews #CapitalMarkets
Why does trust matter in financial news? #TrustedNews #FinanceNews #CapitalMarkets
According to Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, in a world flooded with information, the difference lies in rigorous cross-checking, human scrutiny, and a commitment to publishing only factual, trustworthy reporting.
📰 Verified reporting
🔎 Human-led scrutiny
✅ Facts over noise
According to Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, in a world flooded with information, the difference lies in rigorous cross-checking, human scrutiny, and a commitment to publishing only factual, trustworthy reporting.
📰 Verified reporting
🔎 Human-led scrutiny
✅ Facts over noise
