GFI Group Inc. (GFIG on NASDAQ) has opened a new office in Paris.
50 staff will be based there, broking financial futures, cash equities and equity derivatives and providing direct market access.
The operation will be headed by Hervé Alfon, Denis Saboureau and Marc Souffir. Messrs Alfon, Saboureau and Souffir, all formerly senior brokers at Refco in Paris, are based at GFI in London and will move back to Paris later in the year. They will report to Steve McMillan, senior managing director and head of Europe for GFI.
Mr McMillan said, "This gives GFI's clients direct market access to European bourses as well as opening up the very important French market for us. We already had clients in Paris and having an office there was very important in continuing to build the business."