Saxo Appoints Mahesh Sethuraman as Singapore CEO
SAXO, a global investing and trading firm, has appointed Mahesh Sethuraman as Singapore CEO to take the helm of its operations here.
Concurrently, the Copenhagen-headquartered firm has appointed Damian Hitchen as regional head of Asia-Pacific (Apac) and Middle East and North Africa (Mena) regions. Having led Saxo’s Mena business since 2021, he will now develop and further grow its business in the areas.
Appointment Follows Departure of Adam Reynolds
This comes after Adam Reynolds, previously Apac and Singapore CEO of Saxo, stepped down after a decade. Reynolds played an important role in consolidating the company’s presence in the Apac region.
About Mahesh Sethuraman
Sethuraman joined the company in 2018 and most recently headed the firm’s global sales trading team, Saxo said on Tuesday (Nov 12).
It added: “With over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Sethuraman brings to the role a deep understanding of financial markets, Singapore’s investing landscape, and Saxo’s market-leading range of global investment products.”
About Saxo
Founded in Copenhagen in 1992, Saxo was established with the goal of making global financial markets more accessible. In 1998, the company launched one of Europe’s first online trading platforms, providing professional-grade tools and broad access to global markets for individual investors.
Saxo’s Singapore office, the company’s second-largest outside of its Danish headquarters and after Amsterdam, was set up in 2006 and has grown over the years here.
“Upside Potential”
Sethuraman said he is looking to “drive the next phase of growth” for Saxo Singapore together with deputy CEO and COO Thomas Qvistgaard Hanse, as well as the wider team.
He told The Business Times on the sidelines of the Singapore FinTech Festival last week that he had joined Saxo because he could see the “upside potential” of a digital platform and his relationship with the firm started more than a decade ago when he was a client on the buy side.
As Singapore CEO, he wants to create a broader awareness about the importance of staying engaged with the markets.
“We can focus on how to split the pie later, but the size of the pie must grow, and that can only happen if we keep reiterating the message that the best way to fight inflation is to invest in the financial markets,” he said.
Sethuraman’s vision for Saxo is to provide personalised insights that keep clients well-informed, enabling them to make better investment decisions.
Conclusion
Sethuraman’s appointment as Singapore CEO comes at a time when the company is looking to drive growth in the region. With his extensive experience in the financial services industry and deep understanding of Singapore’s investing landscape, he is well-positioned to lead Saxo’s operations in Singapore.
FAQs
Q: What is Saxo’s goal in appointing Mahesh Sethuraman as Singapore CEO?
A: Saxo aims to drive the next phase of growth in Singapore and the region under Sethuraman’s leadership.
Q: What is Sethuraman’s vision for Saxo?
A: Sethuraman wants to provide personalised insights that keep clients well-informed, enabling them to make better investment decisions.
Q: What is Saxo’s strategy in the current trading landscape?
A: Saxo is focusing on improving the quality of service and the investment experience, rather than simply cutting prices.
Q: Will Saxo move into the digital asset space?
A: Saxo will continue to focus on providing access to public markets for people to make their investments, rather than moving into the digital asset space.
