Mr. Stevens will help expand and implement Jefferies' strategy in electronic trading across all securities classes, including Jefferies' leading equity trading effort.

Jefferies has been serving institutional investors in equities since 1962 and has grown to be one of the leading firms in providing liquidity and best execution to a broad group of customers around the world. With the continuing evolution of client needs, Jefferies has responded with an increasing array of trade execution capabilities. Mr. Stevens is expected to help the firm meaningfully deepen and strengthen its product offerings.

"Jefferies will always lead with trading, and Ross Stevens, with his excellent experience and relationships on the Street, is a very significant hire for us," commented Richard B. Handler, Chief Executive Officer. "This enhancement of Jefferies' ability to serve sales and trading clients, especially as it relates to our equity franchise, demonstrates our deep and continued commitment to trading."

"I am extremely pleased to join Jefferies' thriving platform at this critical time in the progression of the capital markets," said Mr. Stevens. "The enormous strength and daily order flow of the firm's trading platforms should allow us to develop and provide clients an increasingly sophisticated array of market-leading services."

Prior to joining Jefferies, Mr. Stevens worked at Banc of America Securities LLC, where he most recently served as the Head of Electronic Trading Services for Global Markets and previously as Chief Operating Officer for Equities. He started his career on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs Inc. Mr. Stevens received a PhD from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago, and a BSE from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Stevens will be based in Jefferies' New York headquarters office.