Tradeweb Founder Joins GFI Group
Tradeweb Markets founder James W. Toffey has joined brokerage GFI Group as global head of electronic markets to oversee GFI’s services as a global operator of electronic marketplaces for professional traders and market makers of cash and derivative financial and commodity products, officials say.At Tradeweb, Toffey served as the CEO and president through 2008 of the joint venture that began in 1997 with four global banks. Toffey was responsible for developing electronic markets for fixed income and equities and for creating innovative workflow solutions for financial market professionals.
“Jim will provide critical leadership to our eCommerce team at this crucial time when we are launching our regulated trading platforms in the US and Europe,” says Colin Heffron, CEO of GFI Group in a statement. GFI provides wholesale brokerage services, clearing, electronic execution and trading support products for global financial markets.
R.J. O’Brien Names Managing Director for Asset Management
Chicago-based futures broker R.J. O’Brien & Associates reports that Julie M. DeMatteo has joined the firm to serve as managing director, asset management from Barclays Capital, where she served as director, prime Services since 2010, officials say.
At RJO, DeMatteo will help the firm leverage its managed futures offering and infrastructure by broadening product partnerships, establishing specialized products and lining up new distribution arms for the investment vehicles, says chairman and CEO Gerald Corcoran.
At Barclays Capital, DeMatteo was responsible for establishing and expanding the firm’s footprint in the managed futures sector, officials say. She also worked with the structured products group to create and market futures-linked products. She also worked as executive director of business development at AlphaMetrix from 2008 to 2010.
DeMatteo served as president and CEO of UBS Managed Fund Services from 2005 to 2008, and from 1991 to 2005, she held senior legal and compliance positions with bank futures commission merchants, including UBS Securities; ING (U.S.) Securities; and Bank of America Futures.
CME Group Mulls Sale of Nymex Building
Global derivatives marketplace CME Group is exploring the sale of the headquarters of the New York Mercantile Exchange, officials say. The CME Group, in partnership with its global real estate advisor Holly Duran Real Estate Partners of Chicago, has retained Newmark Grubb Knight Frank for the potential sale.
The 16-story, LEED-certified Nymex building is located at One North End Avenue, immediately west of Brookfield Place (formerly the World Financial Center) and Goldman Sachs Tower, officials say.
The company will continue operation of its Nymex trading floor in New York whether or not the Nymex building is sold, officials say. In the event of the sale, CME may lease back a portion of the building, including the trading floor and the possibility of relocating Nymex to other properties in Lower Manhattan.
“CME Group remains committed to our floor based membership and open outcry trading services in New York, which continue to be a profitable part of our business and serve our customers well,” says Jamie Parisi, CME Group CFO in a statement. “The sale of the Nymex building will help us continue to reinvest in our core derivatives business, just as we did following the sale and lease-back of office space in the CBOT building in Chicago last year.”
CME Group acquired the NYMEX Building, along with the exchange, in 2008. Nymex has occupied the building since 1997. CME Group owns the building on a ground lease from New York’s Battery Park City Authority that expires in June 2069.
Black River Hires from BNY Mellon
James Gruver, global investor relations, Black River Asset Management
Black River Asset Management has named James Gruver from BNY Mellon Investment Management to lead global investor relations, officials say.
Gruver will report to Gary Jarrett, CEO and managing principal at Black River, and will be responsible for expanding Black River’s global brand footprint, developing new business and overseeing strategic relationships with institutional investors, investment consultants and intermediaries, say officials at the firm.
“We believe James is uniquely suited to deliver Black River’s entire suite of hedge fund and private equity solutions,” says Jarrett in a statement.
Gruver has more than 20 years of marketing, client service, product management and business development experience, officials say. At BNY Mellon, he held senior roles in EMEA, Asia Pacific and North America, overseeing corporate defined benefit and defined contribution plans; endowments and foundations; financial institutions; intermediaries; and sovereign institutions. He also served on BNY Mellon Investment Management’s Operating Committee and the New England Leadership team. He also worked at Delaware Investments, Morley Capital Management and SEI Investments.
BI-SAM Names APAC Executive Director
Technology provider to asset managers BI-SAM has promoted Ian Thompson to executive regional director APAC as the vendor expands its teams in Hong Kong and Sydney, and opens a new office in Singapore, officials report.
Thompson has held leadership positions in product management and client services at BI-SAM for more than seven years, officials say. He will be based in BI-SAM’s Hong Kong office.
“The APAC region has been a key growth area for BI-SAM,” says Alexandre Harkous, CEO of BI-SAM, which provides data management, performance, attribution, risk, composites and reporting solutions for asset managers.
Gores Group Acquires Etrali from France Telecom Orange
Private equity firm the Gores Group has acquired trading turret and voice services provider Etrali, Orange Business Services – Trading Solutions, a subsidiary of telecom operator France Telecom Orange, officials say. As a result of the acquisition, the vendor will be rebranded Etrali Trading Solutions. Headquartered in Paris, Etrali offers voice and electronic trading infrastructure and services for the trading communities, officials say. Etrali also operates a voice and data network dedicated to the trading industry. The Gores Group was founded in 1987 by Alec E. Gores and is headquartered in Los Angeles. Etrali Trading Solutions employs more than 450 people in major financial centers.
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