Executive moves across the financial and crypto sectors this week highlight a mix of seasoned leadership and fresh direction, with firms ranging from iFOREX to CME reshaping their senior teams.
iFOREX taps former Yad Vashem CIO as operating chief
iFOREX announced that Daniel Shalom will serve as chief operating officer, taking charge of business operations, customer experience, product and technology. The appointment takes effect immediately and follows the broker’s earlier effort to strengthen its innovation unit after launching the AI‑driven trading recommendation service Pulse.
Shalom arrives from Yad Vashem, Israel’s World Holocaust Remembrance Center, where he was chief information officer and oversaw a six‑petabyte data environment. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Amdocs, most recently as vice president of data and AI, leading a team of roughly 500 professionals.
Industry observers note that iFOREX’s focus on technology could help it compete in a crowded retail forex market, though the firm still faces regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions.
BitGo names former MAS official to head Asia‑Pacific
In the crypto‑security space, BitGo appointed Angela Ang as managing director for Asia‑Pacific and president of its Singapore subsidiary. Ang satisfies the regulator’s fit‑and‑proper standards and will oversee the firm’s regional growth.
Before joining BitGo, Ang spent more than a decade at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, helping craft the nation’s payments and crypto licensing framework. She later led public policy and strategic partnerships at TRM Labs, where she was part of the founding APAC team.
Analysts say her regulatory background may smooth BitGo’s expansion, especially as Asian markets tighten oversight of digital asset services.
CME CEO Terry Duffy to shift to executive chair
CME Group disclosed that chief executive officer Terry Duffy will step down in March 2027, moving to the role of executive chairman. Current president and chief financial officer Lynne Fitzpatrick is slated to become CEO and join the board.
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Duffy has been with CME since 2002, first as chairman, then taking the CEO mantle in 2016. His tenure saw the transition from floor trading to electronic platforms and the acquisition of the Chicago Board of Trade and the New York Mercantile Exchange.
“The change reflects a natural evolution for a company that has already reinvented itself several times,” a market commentator said, adding that the leadership shuffle could influence the firm’s strategic direction.
HFM brings Jean Nahas to lead UAE operations
Broker HFM appointed Jean Nahas as head of category for the United Arab Emirates, where he will manage the newly licensed entity and direct the Dubai office. Nahas will focus on business growth, compliance with local rules and expanding HFM’s presence in the Middle East.
Before joining HFM, the adviser acted as an independent strategic consultant and board member for various brokerage and fintech firms. He also co‑founded the 357 Group and served as group chief operating officer at Zarvista Capital Markets from 2023 to 2025.
A brief statement from the firm noted that the hire aligns with its plan to increase regulated activity across the region.
Kraken promotes CFD veteran to EU chief operating officer
Kraken promoted Stavros Vassiliades to chief operating officer and executive director of its European Union business, placing him in charge of the regulated EU arm. Vassiliades joined Kraken last year from Pepperstone EU, the Cyprus‑licensed unit of the Australian CFD broker.
His prior experience includes three years as executive director at Pepperstone EU, a stint heading compliance at MPS Marketplace Securities and a role as operations and compliance manager at MAP Fintech.
The move continues Kraken’s pattern of staffing its European operations with professionals from traditional brokerage backgrounds, a strategy that may aid its compliance posture.
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CLS expands board with six new directors
CLS, the market‑infrastructure group that runs the largest payment‑versus‑payment settlement system for foreign exchange, added six members to its board of directors. The new directors are James Hardy (independent), Richard James of Deutsche Bank, Sandra Laielli van Scherpenzeel of UBS Switzerland AG, Matthieu Mercier of BNP Paribas CIB, Chadwick Renfro (independent) and Boyd Winston of JPMorgan Chase Bank.
With the appointments, the board now totals 21 directors, including eight independents. Chairman Gottfried Leibbrandt said the additions bring expertise that supports the company’s risk agenda.
TenTrade adds former INGOT leader as partner and CRO
TenTrade named Andreas Andreou as partner and chief revenue officer, while also appointing Marios Morfakis as chief sales officer. Andreou most recently served as chief sales officer at INGOT Brokers until June 2026.
His background includes senior roles at several retail FX and CFD firms, primarily based in Dubai. The firm also announced former Portugal footballer Luis Figo as its global ambassador for a campaign titled “Inspiring the Next Number 10.”
Georgios Papassavas becomes CEO of HFM
Georgios Papassavas took over as chief executive officer of HFM in February, after nearly a decade with the broker. He previously held the chief information officer position, overseeing the company’s technology infrastructure.
Papassavas began his career at Amdocs in 2008, later leading financial software teams at FxPro. HFM, formerly HotForex, rebranded in 2022 to reflect a broader multi‑asset offering beyond traditional currency trading.
His promotion signals a continuation of the firm’s push toward diversified product lines.
Markets adjust quickly.