The Headhunter

European Quantitative Research Director - based London

Our client is a US firm that is expanding its research products in Europe.

We seek a Director of European Quantitative Research, based in London with European travel. In this role you will be expected to develop research tools and explain complex investment topics to audiences of all levels.

You will be responsible for the application of our client's fund and equity research methodologies and tools across Europe. You will adapt current models/tools as well as build and develop new methodologies in line with market demand.

You will have a strong academic understanding of investment theory as well as practical quantitative research experience gained working within the financial sector. You will also ideally have practical investing experience.

You will also have excellent communication skills. Your ideas will be presented to audiences across Europe at industry events as well via media interviews, regulatory meetings and road shows. You will also be able to write methodologies/research papers/white papers for targeted distribution.

More than anything you will be passionate about investing.

To apply, please contact Aine Hall.

Business Development Manager - Company Fundamental Data - based London

Our client is a global business that is aggressively growing revenues by building and acquiring financial data products within the financial markets.

We seek an experienced Sales Executive to sell equity data feeds. These feeds provide in-depth company fundamental data with customisable search and download features. Your target market will be UK-based investment banks, brokers and financial advisers. You will be required to grow existing revenues as well as signing up new customers. You will understand this market and will be able to demonstrate that you have over-achieved against sales targets selling similar products.

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Aine Hall.

Senior Sales, Bank to Bank Sales - FX Trading Platform - based London

This is an opportunity to join a market-leading foreign exchange platform. The role is based in London but will involve European travel. Candidates should have experience in senior FX sales roles working for an investment bank. This role is bank to bank sales within FX. You will be comfortable in a process-driven culture. You will have an extensive network of business contacts. Experience in using sales methodologies would be an advantage.

For an initial discussion please contact Paul Chambers.

Keeping Track of Dark Pools

Here is a summary of recent dark pool announcements.

This weekend, The Independent on Sunday reported that The London Stock Exchange is in talks with a number of new City investors for Baikal, its pan-European equity trading facility, to replace Lehman Brothers which had been the exchange’s partner until its recent collapse. Here's the article.

Last week Bloomberg reported that ICAP will launch a dark pool for blocked trades called Blockcrossing. The article cites an un-named source that the firm "wants to develop a multilateral trading facility by the second half of 2009".

At the end of November the Financial Times reported that Turquoise, is in talks with "strategic investors" about fresh funding for the venture two months after it was launched to challenge Europe's incumbent stock exchanges. Click here for the full article.

An article in The Wall Street Journal last week published the headline, "In Europe, dark pools remain in the shade". The article talks about the effect of volatility on dark pools as well announcing new European launches. Pipeline Trading Systems, a U.S. dark pool, is moving ahead with its plan to launch a European trading system early next year. Knight Capital Group, a rival U.S. broker, said last week it plans to launch its dark pool in Europe, although timing is unknown.

Trade Support Executive - based London - MTF

Our client owns a multilateral trading facility that provides dark pool liquidity for cash equities.

We seek a pro-active Trade Support Executive to support the development and implementation of an operational trading model, and to provide ongoing support of post-trade operations. This will involve supporting clients throughout pre- and post- product implementation.

In this role we seek candidates with excellent knowledge of cash equities trading, FIX and SWIFT. You will have excellent customer skills as well as very strong project management skills. This is an opportunity to join a firm with ambitious product and revenue plans.

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Aine Hall.