With over 15 years of experience in the capital markets and previous work with trading platforms, Mr. Aikins brings a specific focus on the design, development, deployment and operation of market centre technology to the Chi-X Australia team. His previous roles include Head of Telecommunications, CTO and Lead Architect for the ASX, and CTO and Managing Director of the Centre for Securities Industry Strategy.

Additionally, newly appointed Business Development Manager Andrew Walton joins Chi-X Australia with over 10 years of project management experience in both the IT and business development aspects of trading systems, including roles at UBS, BNP Paribas and the ASX. Walton will initially focus on the on-boarding and client connectivity process in the lead up to Chi-X Australia's launch.

Ronald Gould, CEO of Chi-X Asia-Pacific, welcomed Aikins and Walton to the team and noted that their appointments bring the company another step closer to delivering on its commitment to introduce faster, cheaper and smarter equities trading for the Australian market later this year.

"Having secured in-principle approval for an Australian market licence, Chi-X Australia intends to launch a low cost, high speed, intelligent trading platform that is based on a model that has captured support from both investors and regulators by providing lower trading costs, increased overall market liquidity, and thus, improved trade execution quality for investors," said Mr. Gould.

Peter Fowler, Chief Operating Officer for Chi-X Australia, said, "Given their skills and experience, we felt Mike and Andrew were the obvious choices to help us bring the Chi-X Global model to the Australian market. We continue to actively and positively engage with the Australian trading community and Mike and Andrew's appointments will significantly deepen this engagement."