ING
ING has named Joseph Kerkor as head of emerging markets credit trading for EMEA, based in London.
Kerkor brings more than 15 years of credit trading experience to his new role, which will see him leading a five-strong trading team, specialising in emerging markets in EMEA spanning regions such as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the Middle East, Turkey and South Africa. Kerkor joins the bank from Barclays, where he spent over a year in London as an executive director in emerging markets credit trading.
During his time at the firm, he led Barclays’ investment grade trading pod across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and CEE regions.
Prior to this, he also led emerging markets CEEMEA credit trading at BNP Paribas, and previously spent almost seven years at Goldman Sachs, working across various senior roles related to emerging markets credit trading.
Makor Group
International brokerage and investment bank Makor Group has appointed Colin Robb as a global multi-asset sales trader, based in Dubai.
Robb’s addition to the firm is set to support the expansion of Makor Group’s footprint across global markets.
Robb brings more than two decades of sell-side experience to his new role, which will see him focusing on global multi-asset sales trading spanning equities, derivatives, fixed income, FX and crypto.
Most recently, he spent four years at Stifel, working as a managing director covering global one touch and electronic sales trading.
Robb also served as a global one touch equity sales trader at Mirabaud Group for more than four years.
Previously in his career, he has held various senior positions, including as a director in EMEA sales trading at HSBC, and before this, as head of US and UK sales trading at Natixis.
Kepler Cheuvreux
Olatayo Balogun has joined Kepler Cheuvreux’s KCx platform as an electronic sales trader, marking the most recent addition to the team following a spate of hires.
Balogun will be based out of London in his new role, where he is set to support the development of Kepler Cheuvreux’s execution strategy.
He joins the firm from Berenberg, where he spent more than six years working across various electronic trading-based roles, most recently as an associate director.
Prior to this, he served as an electronic sales trader at Mirabaud Group, initially joining the firm in a compliance monitoring role in 2017. In the same week, Kepler Cheuvreux also expanded its high touch sales trading team, with the addition of Sidonie Vasseur joining as a trader on the desk.
She will be based out of Paris in her new role, and brings almost 15 years of sell-side trading experience to the position.
Vasseur joins the firm from UBS, where she spent the last four years as a cross asset execution trader, working across various different asset classes, including equities, fixed income, FX, ETDs, funds and hedge funds.
Prior to this, she worked in equity derivatives-based roles at GFI Group and Exane, based out of Paris and Geneva respectively.
Previously in her career, she has also served at firms including Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale and Rothschild & Co.
OptimX
Paul Squires has joined OptimX as a strategic advisor four months after his departure from Invesco.
In his new role, London-based Squires is set to support the expansion of OptimX’s platform, with a particular focus on the EMEA region.
He joins the firm after six and a half years at Invesco, where he most recently served as head of trading for EMEA and APAC equities.
Prior to this, he spent more than two decades at AXA Investment Management, serving in various roles, most notably as head of trading. Additionally, in 2015, Squires collected The TRADE’s Lifetime Achievement award at the Leaders in Trading Awards, a recognition celebrating his significant and enduring impact on the industry.
Citi
Citi has appointed Lee Smallwood as chief operating officer of markets.
Smallwood brings a blend of front-office markets experience and operational leadership, alongside expertise in data, innovation and artificial intelligence.
In his new role, he will work closely with markets leadership to support the firm’s operating model and drive growth and innovation.
He most recently served as global head of markets innovation and investments at Citi, where he led global teams focused on data-driven platforms, AI initiatives and strategic investments.
Prior to this, Smallwood also held several senior roles within Citi’s markets division, including chief operating officer, markets and securities services for North America and G10 rates chief operating officer and head of eCommerce for North America.
Smallwood also began his industry career as a rates trader at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities and Citi.
Tavira Financial
Tavira Financial has appointed Mark Griffiths as group chief executive officer, overseeing the firm’s operations across London, Monaco, Dubai and Australia.
He joins from BNY, where he spent more than a decade in senior roles across clearance and collateral management and relationship management.
Most recently, he was responsible for the bank’s clearance and collateral management business, having previously served as head of relationship management within Pershing EMEA and BNY Mellon broker dealer services across EMEA and APAC.
The appointment comes as the firm continues to develop its platform, governance, and operating model across capital markets.
Previously in his career, Griffiths served as head of direct custody and clearing sales for APAC at Citi, managing relationships with banks, broker-dealers and market infrastructure providers across the region.
He also spent more than 11 years at Credit Suisse in Singapore as a director, with oversight across network management, prime services middle office, client services and securities operations.