Executive Moves of the Week: Leadership Shifts at BUX, DHF Capital, SMBC and Plus500

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

Broker - BUX CEO Yorick Naeff to Lead Innovation at ABN AMRO

Amsterdam-based neobroker BUX has announced that its CEO and co-founder, Yorick Naeff, will assume a new role as Head of Innovation at Dutch bank ABN AMRO. The appointment is effective February 1, 2026. Yorick Naeff has led BUX since 2020, during which time he oversaw its expansion across Europe and its development into a platform focused on long-term investing.

Under his leadership, BUX reportedly grew its product offering, expanded into new markets, and established a notable position in the European retail investment sector. His transition follows ABN AMRO's acquisition of BUX in July 2024 for €68 million. Following the acquisition, Yorick has reportedly played a key role in guiding the integration process between the two companies.

Asset Management - DHF Capital Appoints Iran Erzando as Financial Controller

DHF Capital S.A., an asset management and securitization company based in Luxembourg that serves well-informed personal and institutional investors, has announced the appointment of Iran Erzando as its new Financial Controller.

Mr. Erzando is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 11 years of professional experience encompassing both external audit and corporate finance. He spent eight years with globally recognized firms, including KPMG and Crowe, where he conducted audits and assurance services across various sectors, such as retail, hospitality, oil & gas, shipping, and services. Subsequently transitioning into corporate finance, Mr. Erzando held roles within Finance Shared Service Centers in the oil & gas and telecommunications sectors. His key areas of expertise are noted to include management accounting, reconciliations, IFRS 16 implementation, and fixed asset management, where he is stated to have consistently contributed to operational accuracy and financial efficiency.

Bank - SMBC Appoints Luis Pereira as Co-Regional CIO for Asia Pacific

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has announced that Luis Pereira has joined the bank as co-regional chief information officer (CIO) for its Asia Pacific Division. Mr. Pereira will be based in Singapore.

In his new role, Mr. Pereira is tasked with leading the bank's digital transformation initiatives, enhancing resiliency within its operations, and driving innovation in financial technology. These efforts are aimed at strengthening SMBC's competitive position in the region. Mr. Pereira will collaborate with Fumitaka Kato, who also serves as co-regional CIO of the APAC Division.

Broker - Plus500 Appoints Nick Scarf as CEO of Australian Subsidiary​

Israel-based online trading group Plus500 has announced a change in the leadership team of its Australian subsidiary, which is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The company has hired Nick Scarf as the new Chief Executive Officer of Plus500AU Pty Ltd.

Nick Scarf takes over the role of CEO of Plus500 Australia from Sean Murphy, who had led Plus500's business in Australia since 2015. Mr. Scarf joins Plus500 from institutional broker and market making firm Marex Group, where he served as the Chief Operating Officer for Marex's Australia and New Zealand business.