CME Group Integrates Its Forex Businesses into a Single Unit

On August 16th, the global leading derivatives marketplace CME Group announced that it will restructure its forex futures, options, cash, and over-the-counter (OTC) forex business into a single department, led by Paul Houston, who was responsible for CME Group's futures and options business for seven years.

Under the realignment, Houston will serve as the global head of FX Products, responsible for the company's forex derivatives markets and its EBS cash market business, driving the merged team to further improve customer service, improve efficiency, and strengthen product development across the entire forex marketplace. Jeff Ward, the global head of EBS, will leave CME Group in September.

"With the adoption of a more integrated FX business model that can better operate across futures, options, cash and OTC markets, we will significantly expand trading opportunities for our clients, while also delivering increased efficiencies and an enhanced ability to introduce new products in the dynamic FX marketplace," said Tim McCourt, Senior Managing Director, Head of Financial & OTC Products, CME Group. "We have been working to create tighter alignment among all of our FX businesses since CME Group purchased EBS through its acquisition of NEX in 2018. This new structure is the last step in that process and one that, we believe, will benefit our FX clients globally."

McCourt added: "Paul is a proven leader who has played a key role in expanding our FX futures and options business, which saw average daily volume increase by 24% to 985,000 contracts last year. His experience and comprehensive knowledge of the broad FX market will benefit our entire FX business and create enhanced development opportunities for the combined team. In addition, we thank Jeff Ward for all he has done to make EBS an award-winning, go-to source for liquidity and price discovery in cash FX and look forward to continuing to build on that strong track record going forward."

(Source: CME Group)