Executive Moves of the Week: Leadership Shifts at Axi, Eightcap and CPP Group

The below are selected highlights of last week's executive transitions, including significant leadership shifts across the banking, trading, and FinTech sectors.

Broker - Axi Bids Farewell to Chief Commercial Officer Louis Cooper

Axi has announced that its Chief Commercial Officer, Louis Cooper, will retire at the end of September after nearly a decade at the company. His departure marks the close of an era during which the broker transformed from a regional player into a global name in retail trading.

Cooper joined Axi in 2016 and quickly became one of its key architects for growth. Over the past nine years, he has overseen commercial strategy, brand development, and the expansion of services into over 100 countries. Axi now offers trading in forex, CFDs, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, with Cooper credited for much of the diversification effort.

Broker - Leadership Changes Continue at Eightcap

Eightcap has seen further changes in its senior ranks, with Alex Howard stepping down as CEO after less than two years in the role. According to his LinkedIn profile, Howard has also left his position as Managing Director of Regulated Markets at the Melbourne-based broker. The company has yet to confirm a successor.

Howard had joined Eightcap in January 2023, replacing founder Joel Murphy, who remains involved as Non-Executive Chairman. His career spans nearly two decades across major trading firms. Before Eightcap, he worked at StoneX as Head of Retail for Asia-Pacific following its acquisition of GAIN Capital. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at IG, where he eventually became Head of Asia Pacific, and at BGC Partners, now BGC Group.

Broker - CPP Group Unveils Leadership Changes and Cost Cuts​

CPP Group announced a significant restructuring of its leadership team alongside further cost-cutting initiatives aimed at reducing expenses.

The shake-up will see Chief Executive Officer Simon Pyper step down as Group CEO at the end of September 2025. He will transition into a new role as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Legacy Operations, where he will oversee cash management and the wind-down of non-core activities. Pyper is expected to leave the group entirely during 2026.