Trading Apps has completed an internal acquisition process as of Q1, thereby putting an end to speculation of an external sale.
The leadership team of Laura Allen as managing director, Stefan Bates as chief technology officer (CTO) and Matthew Phillips as head of delivery, have been joined by two new directors Ciaran O’Donnell (CFO) and Den Leonard, a newcomer to the sector who has taken up a position as executive chairman.
Leonard sold his business to a private equity investor 12 months ago and has been appointed to support the Trading Apps management team with the next chapter of the company’s progression.
Meanwhile, Carol Kemm has been enticed out of retirement to join the firm as a consultant director to bring her considerable experience as a key figure at FIS Global One for 18 years, to bear on Trading Apps plans for expansion.
Kemm tells SLT that she is eager to apply her knowledge of middle and back-office functions in securities lending businesses from her time with Global One as well as her relationships with its customers.
To this end, Kemm says she is able to “act as a bridge” between those areas and Trading Apps’ well-developed front-end expertise.
Allen adds: “The engagement of Carol Kemm is a pivotal moment for Trading Apps. Carol brings a wealth of experience and a broad network which will strengthen our product and reach.”
Following the sale of its agency securities finance business to BNY Mellon in December 2018, Trading Apps has focused on broadening its functionality and evolving its technical architecture.
The appointment of Kemm comes as part of this repositioning and Allen tells SLT that the firm has been working hard in the past year to create new functionality to improve clients’ operations and connectivity.
There is a renewed sense of excitement within Trading Apps, having gained fresh investment, the firm says it will continue developing leading-edge software to provide bespoke solutions that set it apart from other vendors with “out-of-the-box” solutions.
Trading Apps is expected to make a series of further imminent announcements regarding key appointments and also technical developments that will make their solutions more accessible and attractive to any securities finance participant.
