OSTC chief departs for Saudi Tadawul Group strategy role

Incoming executive previously served at LSE, Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX), SIX, NYSE Euronext, SmartPool Trading, Euronext and OSTC.

The chief executive officer of proprietary trading firm, OSTC, has departed to join the Saudi Tadawul Group, The TRADE can reveal.

Lee Hodgkinson has joined the exchange operator as its group chief strategy officer after spending the last four years as chief executive at OSTC.

Hodgkinson announced his departure from OSTC in a social media update in July, adding that he was leaving for a “truly unique opportunity”. 

“My time at OSTC has been rewarding and I have learned a great deal from what we have achieved together – launching our fast-growing ZISHI Cornerstone education business and winning Proprietary Trading Firm the Year being notable highlights – particularly in the face of the once-in-a lifetime travails of Covid and the Ukrainian crisis,” said Hodgkinson in July.

Prior to joining OSTC in 2018, Hodgkinson spent four years at Euronext as chief executive of its London business and as head of markets and global sales. He also spent six years as chief executive officer at Euronext-originated dark pool, SmartPool Trading.

Previously in his career, he spent four years at NYSE Euronext as a senior vice president and head of sales and client coverage for EMEA and APAC and in various roles across SIX Swiss Exchange, the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

Hodgkinson’s departure came alongside a companywide restructure at OSTC, which saw it announce plans to silo its markets business from its ZISHI financial education offering in July. 

“The Board and shareholders would like to thank Lee for his unwavering contribution, particularly as he led our firm through the pandemic with the utmost professionalism, dedication, and resilience,” the firm said in its July update. “We wish him every success in his future endeavour.”

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