Liqudnet, a buy-side focused crossing network, has bolstered its Asia-Pacific sales team with two senior hires, following rapid growth in the region.
James Chatfield, formerly responsible for Australian and Indian markets at Lazard Asset Management Pacific, joins Liquidnet in Sydney to support sales efforts in Australia and New Zealand. Chatfield will report to Sam Macqueen, director at Liquidnet Australia.
In addition, Angela Leong has been hired to lead sales efforts in Singapore, reporting to Tracy Windham, head of non-Japan Asia-Pacific sales. Leong joins from agency brokerage Bloomberg Tradebook, where she worked for four years providing DMA and algorithmic solutions to investment funds and private banks.
According to its own figures, Liquidnet has hit record highs in Asia this year, with principal traded by institutional investors rising 32% year-on-year to US$4.95 billion in Q1 2011. Globally, the firm reported a 37% increase in trading volumes in the region during 2010, with over US$14 billion in principal traded in total.
Liquidnet launched its Asian operations in November 2007 in Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Japan and now boasts over 200 trading members. Trading in Australia commenced in 2008 followed by New Zealand and Malaysia in 2010, with Indonesia added most recently in January 2011.
“Liquidnet Asia has achieved remarkable success in the region by providing a safe and efficient venue to execute large block trades since launching in Asia just over three years ago. These appointments will deliver additional value to the business and our growing member base,” said Lee Porter, Liquidnet's head of Asia-Pacific. “Both James and Angela bring strong industry credentials and an appreciation of how Liquidnet, through technology, is changing the trading landscape in Asia by allowing Members to secure large blocks of liquidity in a safe trading environment.”