MarketAxess Holdings Inc.(NASDAQ:MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for U.S. and European high-grade corporate and emerging markets bonds, today announced the appointment of Thomas Thees as Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Thees, 44, brings over 22 years of fixed income experience to MarketAxess. He joins MarketAxess after more than 16 years at Morgan Stanley, most recently as Managing Director and Head of Investment Grade Trading North America. Under Mr. Thees' leadership, Morgan Stanley became a leading participant and developer of electronic corporate bond trading platforms.
"A recognised leader within the industry and a champion of electronic trading, Tom has made contributions throughout his career that have been instrumental in moving the industry and electronic trading forward," commented Richard McVey, Chairman and CEO of MarketAxess. "Tom's deep experience and range of relationships will be instrumental as we continue to penetrate our existing markets and develop new products to better serve our clients' emerging needs."
"With the growth of electronic trading in the fixed income markets, MarketAxess has demonstrated its leadership position by providing improved price discovery, market transparency, and innovative technological solutions - serving the needs of both investors and dealers alike," notes Mr. Thees. "I look forward to continuing my work with clients as part of MarketAxess' management team and further demonstrating the critical importance of electronic trading in the global fixed income markets."
Mr. Thees is currently the Chairman of the Investment Grade Committee at The Bond Market Association. He also served on The Bond Market Association's Board of Directors from 2000 to 2002. Prior to his tenure at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Thees held positions at Goldman Sachs and Citibank.