The International Commodities and Derivatives Association (ICDA) has appointed two new members to its board of directors: Stéphane Graber, secretary general of the Swiss Trading and Shipping Association (STSA), and Paul Lynch, chief executive of itarle, a provider of multi-asset algorithmic trading and analytics services for the sell-side.
As secretary general of STSA, the main professional trading and shipping association in Switzerland, Graber has been instrumental in unifying three regional associations under a single umbrella and has been the driving force behind STSA’s professionalism and increased engagement with Swiss authorities.
Previously he was delegate at the Economic Development Office, Department of Regional Affairs, Economy and Health of the Republic and State of Geneva for seven years. From 2012 to 2014, he was also president of the Swiss Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), Geneva Chapter, and a member of the board of the SCCC in Zurich.
Lynch began his career as a derivatives trader on the LIFFE floor and moved on to become an expert in algorithmic trading. Prior to establishing itarle, in Switzerland and across the globe, he was head of algorithmic trading at Citigroup.
Lynch says: “In the lead-up to MiFID II adoption, we are already seeing new asset classes being driven by regulation to embrace many of the systems and techniques that hit the equity markets ten years ago. I am looking forward to being part of the ICDA board and participating in an active industry group focused on evolving markets, products and technology innovation throughout Europe and beyond.”
Graber says: “I am delighted to join the ICDA board at a time when the interests of STSA’s members and those of ICDA combine in the context of international regulatory issues of crucial importance to the commodities and derivatives sector. It is in the main interest of all parties to work closely together to ensure an adequate and consistent regulatory environment globally. I hope to be able to contribute to building such synergies.”
Dan Day-Robinson, chairman of ICDA, adds: “I’m delighted to welcome Paul and Stéphane to our board. They will be able to augment ICDA’s unique role as an association based in continental Europe serving the global commodities and derivatives space, particularly at a time of geopolitical, business and regulatory flux in our industry. As well as supporting ICDA’s traditional role, both new board members have a strong commitment to pursuing the association’s evolutionary strategy, which explores new products, platforms and products from a business development perspective.”
