The Headhunter

Client Services Manager - Data Vendor - London

Our client is a global business with historical static and real-time data solutions which are sold to middle- and back-office. We seek a Client Services Manager to oversee the help desk, sales administration and client support departments (8 direct reports). You will be hands-on and be passionate about differentiating yourself from competitors by providing superior client service. In the role you will look to improve existing processes and you will be encouraged to pitch new ideas to senior management. You will already be managing a client services team and will have a strong understanding of financial markets. For more information please contact Aine Hall on +44(0)20 7392 2644 or aine@freshman.co.uk

Financial Applications Sales Executive - Buy-Side/Hedge Funds - London

Our client is a global firm which has developed a financial software application that is sold to investment banks, investment managers and hedge funds. We seek a new business sales executive to sell the product to hedge funds and buy-side firms in London. We are particularly interested in meeting with candidates who are currently working for a data vendor in a commercial account management role and are looking for a step into new business sales. You will have excellent client facing skills and will have a strong understanding of the investment process. You will have good questioning skills. At any one time you may be managing up to 15 contract negotiations with clients, therefore, excellent organisational skills are imperative. For more information, please contact Aine Hall on +44 (0)20 7392 2644 or aine@freshman.co.uk.

Senior Sales Executive - Institutions - Fund Services - London

A leading global provider of Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Agency Transfer services within the financial services is looking for a seasoned sales executive professional to lead their sales activity in London.

The successful candidate will become the "face" of the company and as such should have at least 5 years' experience of sales within the investment community. Whilst a background in fund services would be ideal we will also consider candidates who have sold related products such as high value software solutions to the investment community.

Salary and Bonus are negotiable. For an initial discussion please contact Paul Chambers on +44(0)20 7392 2644 or paul@freshman.co.uk

Man and Eurex Join Together to Create US Futures Exchange

Man Group plc has agreed to buy a 70 percent stake in Eurex AG's failed US futures unit for USD23.2mn in cash as it seeks a bigger share of the global futures market. The report on Bloomberg  says Man Group, which is already the fourth-largest U.S. futures broker, said it will succeed where Eurex failed because it will offer new derivatives products for hedge funds and retail investors instead of competing with established exchanges.

FX Portals in the News this Week

An article in IT-Director.com debates whether the future direction of ownership of FX Trading Platforms is proprietary or collective. The question is raised in a week when FXALL, currently owned by a consortium of 17 banks, has sold a significant minority stake to Technology Cross Over Ventures, a Californian VC Group, for a sum of USD77.5 million. IT-Director.com states “the move is the latest sign that the International Banks are abandoning the collectivist approach to trading platforms and increasingly striking out on their own…” Also this week, a Finextra report today states that Japanese finance firm Softbank has pulled out of Irish FX dealing technology company Cognotec after taking a EUR31.5 million hit from its stake in the business.

Mark-It and CreditSights Win Awards

Mark-It has won Credit Magazine's inaugural award for Best Operational Support Services Provider. According to Credit magazine, Mark-It received a 'resounding endorsement' from this year's voters in recognition of the breadth of its services across pricing and reference data, valuations and credit derivative market administration. Mark-It took over a third of the vote. CreditSights was named "Best Independent Credit Research Provider", receiving more than half of the votes in the category. This is the full list of winners.

Intermediate Evaluator - High Yield - London

We are representing a global data vendor. They are developing new fixed income products. We seek an Intermediate Evaluator to generate daily and intermediate prices through our client's proprietary pricing systems. You will have an excellent understanding of fixed income analytics, high yield markets and their participants. You will have very good client facing skills in order to present ideas internally as well as to meet clients. We seek at least 2 years' experience and excellent research and analytical skills. You will be proficient in either Excel or Access. For more information please contact Aine Hall on aine@freshman.co.uk or +44 (0)20 7392 2644.

Former Directors Bid For Control of Mysis

Three former directors of Misys say they are seeking to take over management control of the UK banking systems vendor in a bid to prevent shareholders selling the company on the cheap. The three former directors - ex-finance director Ross Graham, former head of the vendor's financial services division Mike O'Leary and ex-group managing director John Sussens - claim they have the support of institutions holding 25% of Misys shares for their proposed "management walk-in" and have written to the company's independent directors outlining their plan. Read more here.

SEC Hardens Soft Dollar Rules

There's a report on Reuters today outlining that soft-dollar deals (where money managers pay above-market commission rates to get "free" brokerage services such as stock research) will be further restricted, but not banned, under rules adopted yesterday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The story is also picked up by TheStreet.com under the headline "No Hard Line on Soft-Dollar Trading Deals".

Equity Research Analyst - Telecoms - London/Stockholm/Copenhagen

Our client is a global leader in the provision of independent equity research. Their research gives incisive analysis and rigorous valuation of publicly quoted companies across Europe. We seek an experienced equity analyst in the Telecoms industry to be based in London, Stockholm or Copenhagen. The target coverage is Pan-European utilities such as Telenor, Elisa, TDC, Tele2, Teliasonera, Vodafone, Bouygues, BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, KPN, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telefonica Moviles. We will consider candidates with a comprehensive understanding of company strategies, a deep appreciation of sector issues and top class communication skills. Preference will be given to individuals who have worked in these sectors as analysts on the buy-side, sell-side or had appropriate strategy/finance roles within leading firms in the telecoms sector. We would also consider individuals with a relevant sector focused strategy/consulting background.

For more information, please contact Aine Hall on +44(0) 20 7392 2644 or aine@freshman.co.uk