Bolton, who has more than 30 years of financial services experience and has served as a consultant to CME in the Asia-Pacific region since 2002, will be responsible for growing CME's customer base and connecting customers in the region to the company's CME Globex electronic trading platform. Bolton will be based in Sydney, Australia and will report to Arman Falsafi, Managing Director, Europe & Asia.

"Nick has been a valuable asset to CME as we worked to expand distribution of our products to the Asia-Pacific region and reached out to new customers over the last several years," Falsafi said. "We will continue to leverage his industry knowledge and international business experience as we pursue our many growth opportunities in Asia."

"In 2004, CME implemented a number of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen our presence in this important market," explained CME CEO Craig Donohue. "In 2005, we will continue our efforts to attract new customers throughout the Pacific Rim through our Asian Incentive Plan and Electronic Corporate Membership Program -- which generated volume growth in the region from just over 2,400 sides a day in March to over 42,000 a day in November. We also will be installing a new telecommunications hub in Singapore to provide more efficient access to CME products for market users in Asia. And, we will continue our outreach efforts to educate government agencies and market participants about the value of derivatives in risk management."

Bolton, 50, was Managing Director, Asia-Pacific for the Chicago Board of Trade, from 1999-2002. He also has extensive experience in Europe, having served in futures and options marketing roles for ING Baring Futures & Options from 1995-99 and Chase Manhattan Futures from 1993-95. Bolton developed the marketing function for the futures division of TSB Hill Samuel from 1992-93 and created the sales and marketing function for Union Discount Futures Limited from 1986-92. He also held leadership roles at fit financial services companies including ED&F Man from 1980-84 and Deloittes from 1974-1980, all in the United Kingdom.