Industry Leaders Series
Eventus CEO Travis Schwab Highlights Growth and Innovation at FIA EXPO 2023
At FIA EXPO 2023 in Chicago, John Lothian News caught up with Eventus CEO Travis Schwab to discuss the company’s latest developments and industry insights. Schwab shared the significance of extending Eventus’s relationship with Philip Capital, emphasizing the growth in the Asia-Pacific region and validating the strength of their partnership.
Schwab revealed that the new user interface (UI) of its Validus platform is gaining traction with clients. The platform, designed to streamline workflow, allows users to efficiently work through complex issues, investigate alerts, and remedy them with greater ease and speed. With the first clients already on board, Schwab said he anticipates this platform will significantly enhance scalability, performance, and usability.
Former CFTC Commissioner Dawn Stump Discusses Crypto, Carbon Markets, and the Future of Trading at FIA EXPO 2023
At FIA EXPO 2023, John Lothian News interviewed former CFTC Commissioner Dawn Stump, the head of Stump Strategic. In the sit-down, Stump was probed on several critical matters central to the futures industry and the larger financial landscape.
The notable lack of cryptocurrency discussions in the conference’s schedule and presence in the exhibit space didn’t go unnoticed. Stump was directly questioned about her perspective on the current condition of the crypto world, especially as the industry is looking at potential regulatory changes influencing the trajectory of digital assets.
WIFM’s Broad Appeal: Rapid Program Fill-Up, Male Ally Initiatives, and Record-breaking Gala Attendance Highlighted by Leadership
In the second segment of JLN’s conversation with WIFM’s Chair Marisol Collazo and President & CEO Cassandra Seier, Collazo pinpointed high-caliber events and robust networking as major draws for members.
The appeal of WIFM’s offerings isn’t limited to women; both genders show keen interest. Notably, new programs often reach full capacity within just 30 minutes of invitations being released, according to Collazo.
Women in Derivatives Rebrands as Women in Financial Markets: A Pivot Towards a More Inclusive Future
Women in Derivatives has unveiled its rebranding as Women in Financial Markets (WIFM). John Lothian News reached out to Marisol Collazo, WIFM board chair, and Cassandra Seier, the organization’s president & CEO, for insights into the rebrand and other developments within the organization.
Collazo emphasized that the organization’s influence wasn’t limited to derivatives. “Our careers move and we wanted to move with our members in terms of a rebranding name that better reflects a more inclusive, more equitable environment for women,” said Collazo.
John Lothian News Interview at FIA EXPO 2023: Trading Technologies and Abel Noser Speak Out
At this year’s FIA EXPO, John Lothian News sat down with Trading Technologies (TT) CEO Keith Todd and Abel Noser CEO Peter Weiler for a candid video interview about TT’s purchase of Abel Noser, what is next for TT and more.
OCC CEO Andrej Bolkovic Provides Update on OCC’s Progress
OCC CEO Andrej Bolkovic, in a recent exclusive video interview with John Lothian News at FIA EXPO, shed light on several key aspects of the organization’s operations, including his first year as CEO, the current state of the Renaissance project, changes implemented to address recent regulatory issues, recently enunciated OCC values, and the future of the OIC conference.
Bolkovic took over as CEO of OCC from John Davidson on April 1, 2023. He was familiar with the organization and some of its people, having previously served on its board. He called his move to CEO a smooth transition and noted how welcoming people have been.
CQG Leadership Addresses the State of the Second Half and Industry Trends at FIA EXPO
John Lothian News conducted an exclusive video interview at the FIA’s EXPO in Chicago with CQG President Ryan Moroney and Senior Vice President Pat Kenny. The interview delved into the current state of CQG and explored industry trends, shedding light on the company’s strategic direction.
As the discussion began, Moroney and Kenny addressed the performance of the second half of the year for CQG. Kenny said, “Everything has been a little higher, higher, higher, over the last two or three years.”
“The second half looks great. I think it just leads to next year and what might happen next year for CQG to be even better,” Kenny said.
Vermiculus CEO Nils-Robert Persson Discusses Company’s Current State in FIA EXPO Interview
In an exclusive interview with John Lothian News at the FIA’s EXPO at the Sheraton Grand Riverwalk hotel in Chicago, Vermiculus CEO Nils-Robert Persson provided insights into the company’s current state and direction.
Persson discussed Vermiculus’ ongoing projects and completed deals, highlighting the company’s ability to serve clients with microservices and customized solutions.
The conversation also touched upon Vermiculus’ pre-pandemic origins, underscoring its advantageous position during the pandemic, as remote technology discussions by video conference became the norm, saving time and travel costs.
FIA EXPO 2023 to Spotlight Artificial Intelligence
Walt Lukken, President & CEO of FIA (Futures Industry Association), revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) will take center stage at this year’s EXPO 2023 in an exclusive interview with John Lothian News. The Innovator’s Pavilion will showcase companies offering AI solutions aimed at enhancing market efficiency and functionality. Additionally, AI will be a prominent theme in panel discussions during the event.
Lukken highlighted the overwhelming interest in AI, stating that it was the most sought-after topic among queries sent to the EXPO steering committee before the event.
This year’s EXPO will commence on a Monday, a departure from previous years, with keynote speaker Jon Meacham addressing the audience. Meacham’s speech will delve into how history may assess the leadership qualities of today’s U.S. leaders, as Lukken explained.
Matrix Executions COO Allen Greenberg on options trends, 24-hour trading, and how Tony Saliba got the band back together
JLN talked to Allen Greenberg, the COO of Matrix Executions, at the OIC Conference in Nashville in April.
Matrix Executions, an agency broker-dealer, started in February of 2018, so it just turned 5. It was formed by the old management team that ran Liquidpoint and then converted the options to Convergex after Dash took over Convergex, Greenberg said. Tony Saliba, the company’s co-founder, “started making calls, saying, ‘Hey, we want this band back together if you’re interested,'” Greenberg added. So they put together a matrix and took the old ITG derivatives broker-dealer and combined the two.
Walt Lukken Reflects on FIA IDX 2023 and the Good That FIA and Its Members Do
FIA CEO and President Walt Lukken was interviewed by JLN Correspondent Julie Ros at the FIA International Derivatives Week (IDX) in London recently about the conference and related topics.
Lukken spoke about what stood out at the conference, what interesting takeaways on regulations he heard and what the most important topic was.
GlobalRisk founder Steve Probst talks with JLN about the evolving nature of risk and technology
JLN spoke with Steve Probst, GlobalRisk founder and inventor of the GlobalRisk Platform, at the OIC Conference in Nashville in April. He discussed the risks his customers need to manage, and how GlobalRisk is evolving to meet their needs.
Lule Demmissie, U.S. CEO for eToro, to new users: frequent risks in smaller increments is a magic combination
Lule Demmissie is the U.S. CEO of eToro, a global social trading platform with 32 million users in 100 countries. Demmissie says: “Think of it as Twitter and then on top of it a trading system and then on top of that a place for people to practice.” Social engagement drives the platform. When users log in, they see a broad feed of user thoughts on the assets, markets and investing. As users navigate to each asset, they gain access to a unique feed that presents user posts related to that specific offering. People can trade crypto, stocks, ETFs and options, the latter made possible by eToro’s recent acquisition of Gatsby, a commission-free options trading app. Futures could be a possibility someday.
Spider Rock’s Annabelle Baldwin on block trading tools, a new options platform, becoming an ATS, and options on futures
JLN spoke with Annabelle Baldwin, the chief revenue officer of Spider Rock, a Chicago-based proprietary trading firm, at the OIC Conference in Nashville. She spoke about how the company is building the next generation of trading tools as well as a new options platform to serve a broader set of institutional clients.
Patomak Global’s Jill Sommers discusses lessons learned working in – and watching – the regulated markets
JLN spoke with Jill Sommers, chair of the Derivatives Practice Group at Patomak Global Partners, at the OIC Conference in Nashville in April. Sommers, who served two consecutive terms as a CFTC commissioner from 2007 to 2013, discussed her work with Patomak and the evolution and sticking points for regulation in the crypto and rapidly evolving derivative markets.
Gold Bars and Tokyo Apartments: How Money Is Flowing Out of China
First Read Hits & Takes John Lothian & JLN Staff Today is GivingTuesday. According to the official GivingTuesday website, "GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good." I encourage you to make a donation to your...
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The Spread
A Deeper Dive into 0DTE Options trading: Jonathan Zaionz, Senior Derivatives Analyst at Cboe Global Markets and Author of “The Rise of SPX & 0DTE Options,” Discusses 0DTE and More in this Options Discovery Full Interview
In this Options Discovery full interview, Asma Awass speaks with Jonthan Zaionz, a senior derivatives analyst at Cboe Global Markets who recently had his paper, “The Rise of SPX & 0DTE Options” published.
Goldman Says Sharp Drop in Volatility Is Opportunity for Hedging
Observations & Insight Nasdaq's Kevin Kennedy Discusses GEMX Launch on AWS Cloud, Highlights Latency Improvements and Future Cloud Migration Plans JohnLothianNews.com Nasdaq has been moving its markets to the cloud, and it recently announced GEMX had moved to its...
