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Clear Street UK appoints Lawton as CEO
07 May 2026 UK
Image: LinkedIn
Clear Street UK has appointed Alex Lawton as CEO, following approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
This announcement follows Clear Street's European expansion, with a MiFID II license secured in the Netherlands enabling the firm to operate across 27 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Ed Tilly, CEO of Clear Street, states: “The UK is one of the most exciting capital markets in the world and a critical foundation for our global build.
“Alex brings deep prime services and securities finance expertise paired with a builder's mindset — exactly what is needed as we expand our platform and product footprint for our UK and international clients.”
Lawton joined Clear Street's UK management team in December 2025 and is now fully authorised to lead the company's UK operations, where he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the business.
He will lead the development and execution of Clear Street's strategy in the UK, focusing on sustainable growth, deepening client relationships, and expanding the company's product footprint across the region.
Commenting on his appointment, Lawton says: “There is a real appetite in the UK market for a modern, tech forward player and Clear Street is uniquely placed to meet it.
“My priority will be to work closely with our clients to understand their needs and to continue expanding the capabilities we can offer them across asset classes and markets.”
Lawton brings over 30 years of experience in financial markets and infrastructure, with a focus on prime services, securities finance, and equities.
He most recently served as head of global markets and head of the London branch at State Street Bank International, where he led the business across securities finance, FX, and electronic trading platforms.
During his time at State Street, he also served as a member of the Bank of England's Money Markets Committee.
Earlier in his career, he was head of equity finance and prime Services for EMEA at Barclays Investment Bank, and head of prime brokerage for EMEA at Bank of America.
This announcement follows Clear Street's European expansion, with a MiFID II license secured in the Netherlands enabling the firm to operate across 27 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Ed Tilly, CEO of Clear Street, states: “The UK is one of the most exciting capital markets in the world and a critical foundation for our global build.
“Alex brings deep prime services and securities finance expertise paired with a builder's mindset — exactly what is needed as we expand our platform and product footprint for our UK and international clients.”
Lawton joined Clear Street's UK management team in December 2025 and is now fully authorised to lead the company's UK operations, where he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the business.
He will lead the development and execution of Clear Street's strategy in the UK, focusing on sustainable growth, deepening client relationships, and expanding the company's product footprint across the region.
Commenting on his appointment, Lawton says: “There is a real appetite in the UK market for a modern, tech forward player and Clear Street is uniquely placed to meet it.
“My priority will be to work closely with our clients to understand their needs and to continue expanding the capabilities we can offer them across asset classes and markets.”
Lawton brings over 30 years of experience in financial markets and infrastructure, with a focus on prime services, securities finance, and equities.
He most recently served as head of global markets and head of the London branch at State Street Bank International, where he led the business across securities finance, FX, and electronic trading platforms.
During his time at State Street, he also served as a member of the Bank of England's Money Markets Committee.
Earlier in his career, he was head of equity finance and prime Services for EMEA at Barclays Investment Bank, and head of prime brokerage for EMEA at Bank of America.
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