Nasdaq Liffe Markets (NQLX) has appointed former Interactive Brokers VP Thomas Ascher as chief executive officer of the putative exchange.
As CEO, Ascher will be responsible for the strategic and long-term vision and operations of NQLX which is to introduce single stock futures trading this spring.
Ascher was formerly executive vice president, Interactive Brokers Group, where as a member of the firm's steering committee he oversaw the company’s initiative to connnect all five US options exchanges. Ascher has also held senior roles at the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
NQLX is a fully electronic, federally regulated exchange formed as a joint venture between the Nasdaq Stock Market and the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (Liffe).