The Headhunter

European Product Director - Reference Data - based London

Our client is a global firm with well-established middle-office data products.

We seek a Product Director who will enhance, build and deliver on reference data products for our client. You will define product stratgey in line with global business plans and work closely with support, sales, data, infrastructure and end users to contribute to EMEA revenue targets.

You will have strong project management skills, deep knowledge of reference data as well as current market legislation. You will have excellent communication skills and act as the company's ambassador in this product area.

For a confidential discussion please call Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644 or send CV to research@freshman.co.uk

New Business Sales - Counterparty Data - London

Our client provides legal entity data and counterparty data that support risk management and regulatory compliance requirements.

We seek a new business sales executive with experience of selling financial data products, ideally into a reference data environment. You will have a good working knowledge of KYC, AML and MIFID legislation. You will have an established network of contacts amongst asset managers, banks and insurance firms. You will work in a small team and will have a track record of consistently exceeding sales targets.

For more information, contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

Thomson Buys Reuters

Canadian publisher Thomson confirmed yesterday it is buying Reuters for GBP8.7bn.

Reuters Chairman, Niall Fitzgerald, discusses how the deal was reached here in this video and how he persuaded Reuters Trustees that it was in the company's interests. He also says he is confident that the deal will get past the regulators on the basis that it is enhancing competition. View here for Tom Glocer's explanation of what the deal allows Thomson Reuters to do, key personnel in the new organisation as well as his plans for the new operation.

The BBC reported yesterday that Reuters journalists are unhappy and they have concerns that general news operations will become marginalised within an outfit that sees its future as supplying intelligence and tools to those that operate in global financial markets. You'll also read general comments here on the BBC website.

Banks Hold Regulatory Key in Thomson-Reuters Tie-up

A piece in yesterday's Guardian reported that investment banks could play an important role in deciding the regulatory fate of the proposed GBP8.8bn tie-up between Reuters and Thomson Corporation, amid concerns that combining two major financial data companies may be anti-competitive.

The article contains comments from David Anderson of Inside Market Data who says Reuters and Thomson could refer to an increasingly competitive market as an important part of their defence if there is an inquiry. They cite four fast growing rivals: Telekurs, Interactive Data, FactSet and Markit Group.

Click here to read the key proposed terms of the deal.

Thomson Bids for Reuters

Reuters has confirmed it is in takeover talks with Canadian data company Thomson about a possible bid worth USD8.8M.

The BBC reports that Thomson has been expanding its non-data business and Reuters complements its US news operations and European AFX News service. The report goes on to state that a merger between Thomson and Reuters would make sense and that by combining operations, Thomson and Reuters would be better placed to take on their rival, Bloomberg.

Senior Sales Executive - Buy-Side - Paris

Our client is a global firm recently recognised in the 2007 Inside Market Data Awards.

We seek a Sales Executive to sell to new clients across the buy-side community in Continental Europe and the Middle East. You will be exceeding sales quotas in your current role and will bring existing client relationships with you across hedge funds, asset management firms, private banks and financial institutions. You will be used to managing a consultative sales process.

For an confidential discussion, please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

Inside Market Data - Award Winners Announced - 2007

Inside Market Data have just announced their 2007 Award winners. In the Vendor Categories Bloomberg took the honours for Best Data Provider (Vendor), Best Data Provider for Equities and Best Data Provider for Fixed Income. Reuters won awards for Best Data Provider for Foreign Exchange, Best Research Provider and were highly commended in Best Low Latency Data Vendor and Best News Data Product categories. Thomson Financial was highly commended.

Click here for the full list of winners.