Plus Markets Group Plc (LON:PMK) today announced the appointment of new talent to its Board. Simon Brickles and Stephen Hazell-Smith, the team that have run Plus Markets for the past five years, are stepping aside to make way for a new Non-Executive Chairman and a new CEO.
PLUS Markets is an international retail-focused stock exchange based in London. It deals with a range of stock exchange activities, namely: trading execution, the provision of proprietary market data and listing/quotation destinations. PLUS currently trades over 9,000 securities on its platform including London-listed shares (including the FTSE 100), European liquid shares, and unlisted shares quoted on the AIM and PLUS markets.
The Company announced that Giles Vardy had been appointed Non-Executive Chairman, starting today. Prior to this, Vardy was Chairman of a European hedge fund, CQS Management, and Chief Executive of Greig Middleton, a UK private stockbroking firm. He has over 27 years at senior management level, including 5 years as board director of the London Stock Exchange, responsible for the creation of AIM and FTSE International. He is currrently a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. Within Plus Markets, Vardy was previously the non-executive director from Jan 2007 to Septmeber 2009. Vardy takes the place of Stephen Hazell-Smith, who has held the chairman position for 5 years.
Simon Brickles, currently CEO, will become vice chairman from the 15th February 2010. Brickles will focus on increasing international activity, specifically the Middle East. Brickles said:
"PLUS has completed the first phase of its development. It has gained its status as an exchange, obtained its licences and become a natural home for many small companies. It is now time to build on these achievements and cater for a broader range of products and services and to continue to expand internationally. It is right that as the Company enters this exciting broader phase that it has a new Chairman and Chief Executive and I offer them my full support."
Replacing Brickles in his role as CEO will be Cyril Theret, Business Development Officer since 2007. Theret will work closely with the CFO to enhance the Company’s profitability. Cyril Theret commented:
"I look forward to working closely with our customers in order to provide them…
