City Index Makes Managerial Changes, COO Simon Bird Departs
Thursday,26/09/2013|18:14GMTby
Adil Siddiqui
Forex Magnates has learned that City Index’s Chief Operating Officer will be leaving the firm. Simon Bird is moving on from his position at the broker, he joined in the midst of the crisis in 2008 from Bear Stearns.
One of the top four UK based spread betting and CFD providers has succumbed to the evolving market place. Forex Magnates has been informed by sources close to the matter, that City Index’s star hire from Bear Stearns is leaving the organisation owned by ICAP’s Michael Spencer.
The firm, which was one of the pioneers in margin-based investment products for both retail and institutional investors in the UK, has been facing an uphill struggle as competitor, IG, dominates the market. City Index was established in 1983, and eight years later the company launched its CFD Trading function in the UK.
Forex Magnates was informed that City Index’s Chief Operating Office (COO), Simon Bird, will be leaving the firm. City Index is positioned as the fourth most popular broker in both spread betting and CFD trading in the UK, according to the Investment Trends leveraged trading report, 2012. The report states that City Index saw its market share decline in the UK CFD market by 1%, in July 2011 it had 7% market share, and in July 2012, it had 6% market share.
The disappointing news reinforces the tough operating conditions for brokers in the margin trading business. In its 2011 annual report, the firm recorded a £9.65 million profit, faring better than its dismal performance in 2010, where it suffered a hefty £5.4 million loss.
A spokesperson commented about the recent changes to Forex Magnates, “City Index is making a number of organizational changes, consistent with our strategy of developing our international business and growing revenues in EMEA and APAC.”
Details from Mr Bird’s Linkedin profile show that he was previously Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns from 1999 to 2008. Prior to that, he was an Equities and derivatives trader at Nat West Securities from 1986 to 1999.
Simon Bird is registered as the firm's COO as per Companies House, the main UK database on registered companies. In addition, Simon Bird is registered on the FCA register as a CF1 Director for the firm, since December 2008.
City Index has been involved in a spree of takeovers over the last decade, and most recently it purchased FX Solutions in an attempt to fill the gap in its FX offering.
City Index acquisitions:
Finspreads
FX Solutions
IFX Markets
City Index offers a range of financial instruments across its global offices, under the About Us section on its website it states that, "As a group, we have over 400 employees worldwide and offices in the UK, Poland, Singapore, China, Israel and Australia. We transact in excess of 2 million trades every month for individuals in over 50 countries worldwide."
One of the top four UK based spread betting and CFD providers has succumbed to the evolving market place. Forex Magnates has been informed by sources close to the matter, that City Index’s star hire from Bear Stearns is leaving the organisation owned by ICAP’s Michael Spencer.
The firm, which was one of the pioneers in margin-based investment products for both retail and institutional investors in the UK, has been facing an uphill struggle as competitor, IG, dominates the market. City Index was established in 1983, and eight years later the company launched its CFD Trading function in the UK.
Forex Magnates was informed that City Index’s Chief Operating Office (COO), Simon Bird, will be leaving the firm. City Index is positioned as the fourth most popular broker in both spread betting and CFD trading in the UK, according to the Investment Trends leveraged trading report, 2012. The report states that City Index saw its market share decline in the UK CFD market by 1%, in July 2011 it had 7% market share, and in July 2012, it had 6% market share.
The disappointing news reinforces the tough operating conditions for brokers in the margin trading business. In its 2011 annual report, the firm recorded a £9.65 million profit, faring better than its dismal performance in 2010, where it suffered a hefty £5.4 million loss.
A spokesperson commented about the recent changes to Forex Magnates, “City Index is making a number of organizational changes, consistent with our strategy of developing our international business and growing revenues in EMEA and APAC.”
Details from Mr Bird’s Linkedin profile show that he was previously Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns from 1999 to 2008. Prior to that, he was an Equities and derivatives trader at Nat West Securities from 1986 to 1999.
Simon Bird is registered as the firm's COO as per Companies House, the main UK database on registered companies. In addition, Simon Bird is registered on the FCA register as a CF1 Director for the firm, since December 2008.
City Index has been involved in a spree of takeovers over the last decade, and most recently it purchased FX Solutions in an attempt to fill the gap in its FX offering.
City Index acquisitions:
Finspreads
FX Solutions
IFX Markets
City Index offers a range of financial instruments across its global offices, under the About Us section on its website it states that, "As a group, we have over 400 employees worldwide and offices in the UK, Poland, Singapore, China, Israel and Australia. We transact in excess of 2 million trades every month for individuals in over 50 countries worldwide."
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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
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#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
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📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
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🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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
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-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
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#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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#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:
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#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
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Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
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#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
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#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
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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?
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-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
