Benini will be responsible for product development for Markit's commodities business in North America. She will report to Sal Naro and Niall Cameron, Executive Vice Presidents and Global Co-Heads of Equities, Commodities and Risk Management based in New York and London respectively.

Benini joins Markit from Goldman Sachs where she was Vice President and Regional Manager of Commodity Operations responsible for all over-the-counter (OTC) structured derivative and physical transactions, including emissions and renewable energy. Prior to this role, she led the Global Commodities Project team in designing, testing and implementing a strategic confirmation management and settlement system. Benini worked at Goldman Sachs for more than 25 years.

She holds a degree in Economics from Eisenhower College of Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from Columbia University. She has served as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of LEAP (Leadership for Energy Automated Processing) and as a member of the ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) Commodities Working Group.

Earlier this year, Markit appointed Tom Charlesworth as Director of Commodities in London. Prior to this role, Charlesworth was Head of the Totem Service for Commodities at Markit, the leading service for independent derivative valuations for major trading participants in the physical and financial commodities markets.

Sal Naro, Executive Vice President and Global Co-Head of Equities, Commodities and Risk Management at Markit, said: "We are excited about bringing Kathy on board to drive Markit's North American commodities business. The team of Tom in London and Kathy in New York uniquely positions us to grow our business globally, and ensures that we can also focus regionally on products and solutions particular to the European and North American markets."

Kathy Benini said: "I have great admiration for Markit's success in bringing increased transparency and improved operational efficiency to OTC markets, particularly in the areas of fixed income, structured finance and equities. I am excited about this opportunity to help shape the firm's global commodities strategy and to develop new products and services for the North American market."