Executive Moves of the Week: Leadership Shifts at IG Group, Hantec Prime, Trading 212 and Barclays

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

Institutional Broker - IG Group Chairman Mike McTighe to Step Down by End of 2025

IG Group's Chairman, Mike McTighe, will step down by the end of 2025, marking the end of his five-year tenure. His leadership began in February 2020, right at the start of the pandemic, and now, as the company looks toward its future, McTighe feels confident about the company's direction under the leadership of CEO Breon Corcoran.

In a statement, McTighe said, "It has been a great honor and privilege to lead the Board over the past five years." Reflecting on the company's performance during his time, he noted, "With solid foundations laid for stronger growth, I am confident that under Breon Corcoran's leadership, IG will go from strength to strength."

Broker - Michael Nicholas Appointed CEO of Hantec Prime

Hantec Markets has appointed Michael Nicholas as CEO of Hantec Prime, its institutional arm. Nicholas, who brings over a decade of experience in the online trading industry, has previously held senior positions at Match-Prime Liquidity and Match-Trade Technologies. His appointment is part of Hantec's strategy to strengthen its liquidity and execution offerings to institutional clients.

"We are thrilled to welcome Michael as the Hantec Prime CEO," said Nader Nurmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of Hantec Markets. Nicholas will oversee the company's institutional relationships and work closely with product, technology, and operations teams to build bespoke liquidity solutions. His focus will be on providing ultra-low latency connectivity and tailored execution services to sophisticated clients.

Broker - Trading 212 Names Christos Drakos Head of Crypto

Brokerage firm Trading 212 is deepening its push into digital assets by appointing former Revolut executive Christos Drakos as its new Head of Crypto. Drakos will be based in Cyprus, where Trading 212 is building out its regulated crypto operations.

Drakos brings industry experience from Revolut, where he was Executive Director for over three years, and earlier roles at ETX Capital and ArgusFX. His appointment underscores Trading 212's ambition to scale its crypto services across the EU.

Bank - Barclays Names Neel Laungani as Head of Sponsors in APAC​

Barclays has appointed Neel Laungani as Head of Financial Sponsors for Asia Pacific, strengthening its investment banking franchise in the region. Based in Hong Kong, Laungani will oversee sponsor coverage, transaction execution, and origination, reporting to Avinash Thakur, Barclays' APAC head of investment banking, and Christian Oberle, the global head of financial sponsors.

The appointment comes as Barclays pursues growth under a three-year strategic plan. Thakur said Laungani's role will be critical in scaling the bank's advisory and equity capital markets services for sponsor clients, an area the firm has identified as a key priority.