Northern Trust adds key roles in Singapore
Northern Trust has hired Kai Jebens as head of Client Development for Southeast Asia, and Chris Vera as senior consultant for Digital Solutions in APAC for its asset servicing business.
Based in Singapore, Jebens will lead business development efforts, collaborating closely with leading sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, asset managers and consultants across the region. Responsible for driving the growth of Northern Trust’s custody, fund accounting, data and digital services, Jebens specializes in delivering comprehensive solutions that span clients’ entire investment operations.
Before joining Northern Trust, he previously held positions at Collibra, BNY, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), Intercontinental Exchange, and Bloomberg.
Vera has 20 years of experience across investment data, technology, operations and consulting. Prior to joining Northern Trust, he held senior positions at BlackRock, AIA, Bank of New York, and a sovereign wealth fund in Singapore, focused on project transformations helping organizations choose, design and implement solutions for the front, middle and back office. In his new position, Vera will work with clients and prospects in the region to develop and enhance their target operating models.
“Finding the right partners to support our business development ambitions in Southeast Asia is critical and the appointments of Chris and Kai reflect our ongoing dedication to the region,” said Yen Leng Ong, country executive for Southeast Asia at Northern Trust, in a statement.
HKEX names Chan as head of Post Trade
Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced the appointment of Vicky Chan as managing director and head of Post Trade. Chan will report to Vanessa Lau, HKEX co-chief operating officer and Group chief financial officer.
She rejoins the Group after previously spending 15 years with HKEX in various teams including Cash Settlement, Clearing Operations and Platform Development, leaving in 2017 to relocate to Canada with her family. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading the Post Trade team to further elevate HKEX’s service offering across its clearing and settlement systems.
Chan succeeds Hector Lau, Head of Clearing and Depository, who after seven years at HKEX has decided to explore opportunities outside the Group.
Lau said in a statement: “Vicky joins at an exciting time as we continue to invest in modernizing our operations capabilities – particularly with the announcement of our plans to develop the new Orion Derivatives Platform – and as we continue to take our trading and post trade operations to the next level.”
Chan has previously held roles with companies including AIA Group, Goldman Sachs, UBS and PricewaterhouseCoopers. More recently she been an advisor at several Canadian and international companies, leading projects in areas including blockchain solutions and the development of operations platforms and processes for corporates.
M&G appoints Hargreaves’ Gamble as new CRCO
M&G announced the appointment of Shawn Gamble as chief risk and compliance officer (CRCO). She will join the business in 2025 reporting into M&G plc’s CEO Andrea Rossi, and will sit on the Group’s executive committee.
Gamble will join M&G from Hargreaves Lansdown, where she’s currently the Group chief risk officer leading their risk and compliance functions for the last four years. Over her career, she has repeatedly created world class second line of defense functions which have supported growth and embedded a culture of effective risk consideration.
She was previously chief risk officer at Fidelity International, and prior to that held a number of senior leadership positions at Deutsche Bank, Barclays and GE Capital. Having spent the early part of her career focused on credit risk in her native Canada, she has more than two decades of international experience in financial and non-financial risk management and a proven track record for building great teams.
Andrea Rossi, M&G CEO, said in a statement: “Her proven track record for working effectively within diverse organizations will be invaluable in the evolving international regulatory and risk environment in which M&G operates. We will also be able to draw on Shawn’s experience of both the UK and European financial markets as we pursue our domestic and international growth ambitions.
“I also want to thank Louise Gelling, interim CRCO, under whose stewardship the Risk and Compliance team have continued to deliver.”
Gamble said in a statement: “It’s an important moment for the savings and asset management industry, as international regulatory regimes are being scrutinized to ensure positive customer outcomes, whilst allowing markets the freedom to grow and capitalize on measured risks. I’m excited to be joining M&G at such a pivotal time as it navigates complex risk management to leverage its three core businesses: Life, Wealth and Asset Management and target strong returns for customers and investors.”
Julia Sage-Bell joins PIMFA as senior policy adviser
The Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association (PIMFA) announced the appointment of Julia Sage-Bell as its new senior policy adviser.
She joins PIMFA from M&G Wealth Platform, where she was the chief compliance officer since 2021. Sage-Bell has worked in financial services her whole career, with the majority of that time spent in compliance roles. She has extensive experience in managing teams in advisory, monitoring, and training and competence.
In her role, Sage-Bell will collaborate closely with the PIMFA platform and discretionary fund manager (DFM) members to develop and advance relevant policy positions and enhance the voice of platforms and DFMs during an anticipated period of regulatory and legislative change. She will also provide comprehensive support across a wide range of member compliance matters, ensuring the industry’s adherence to regulatory standards is upheld and engaging with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and government.
PIMFA chief executive Liz Field said in a statement: “Julia’s background and extremely strong credentials made her an obvious choice as we better represent the evolving business models of our members and ensure that they are represented externally. Her appointment is a testament to our commitment at PIMFA to providing the best possible support to our members and the industry as a whole.”
Sage-Bell said in a statement: “I have firsthand witnessed the value (PIMFA) provides members in an increasingly complex and fast-moving compliance and regulatory landscape. I am excited to join the association and contribute to helping members tackle the challenges and many opportunities that lie ahead with a positive outlook for the future.”
Hoffmann joins Digital Asset as US policy liaison
Digital Asset announced Matthew Hoffmann has joined as its director of Regulatory and Government Affairs. He will play a crucial role in representing Digital Asset to key stakeholders in the US government, trade associations and regulatory bodies. His efforts will focus on shaping and driving educational initiatives and legislative efforts related to the regulation and adoption of digital asset and blockchain technology.
Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO at Digital Asset, said in a statement: “We built the Canton Network to be able to operate in a complex and changing regulatory environment and Matt will play an important role in educating and strengthening our relationship with policymakers and regulators.”
Prior to joining Digital Asset, Hoffmann served as the staff director to the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) since 2021. He was the chief advisor to the chair for all committee activities including its response to the 2023 banking crisis, advancement of capital market reforms, and creation of the first-ever Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee. This work led to the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), a novel market structure proposal bringing consumer protections and regulatory clarity to the digital asset ecosystem, which passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support earlier this year.
“I asked Matt to join our committee three years ago because I believed he would be a problem solver, skillful negotiator, and thoughtful leader for Committee Republicans.” said Congressman Patrick McHenry, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, “I am proud to say that he more than lived up to those expectations. From bank runs to crypto, he has served as both confidant and strategist. He has helped Committee Republicans achieve our objectives while maintaining the bipartisanship necessary to secure lasting results. The skills that made us successful here will translate well to his next venture.”
Hoffmann said in a statement: “After many years on the policy side in Washington D.C., I am excited to leverage my expertise and work with a team that is committed to advancing this industry in a responsible and compliant manner and to be an advocate for the innovation Digital Asset is driving in the industry and to help advance the broader industries’ priorities.”
Xceptor appoints Coombe as chief revenue officer
Xceptor announced the appointment of Grant Coombe as its new chief revenue officer. Coombe’s appointment will play a pivotal role in accelerating Xceptor’s growth plans.
As CRO, Coombe will lead Xceptor’s revenue strategy, including sales, account management, new business, marketing, and partnerships. Reporting to CEO, Michiel Verhoeven, Coombe will join Xceptor’s executive leadership team. Most recently, Coombe served in a similar role at FundApps, and previously held leadership roles at Saleslocker and Bloomberg LP.
“The combination of his deep industry expertise, client focus, and commercial acumen makes him an ideal partner to our clients as well as the steward of Xceptor’s expansion plans,” said Verhoeven in a statement.
Coombe said in a statement “The financial services industry is characterized by its rapid pace, stringent requirements and needs best-in-class technology partners to drive growth and efficiency.”