A press release published on January 27, 2019 – has formally revealed that Mark Wetjen has been joined Miami International Holdings (MIH) in a multi-faceted, diverse capacity.
Mark Wetjen had previously served as the Commissioner of U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) between 2011 and 2015, following a tenure he spent in a senior leadership level role at the U.S. Senate.
Mr. Wetjen will be assuming the following duties and titles:
- Executive Vice President (Futures and Innovative Products)
- Executive Regulatory Liaison Officer
- Chief Executive Officer of Miami International Futures Exchange, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of MIH)
In total, Wetjen possesses 15 years professional experience working within the disciplines of finance and regulation.
“MIAX has a demonstrated commitment to offering disruptive investment products and providing the marketplace with choice and innovation…
I’m eager to join this team to help them continue to expand their offerings to better serve their clients and advance the industry.”
Mark Wetjen (Various Roles, MIH)
It is stated that he is to play a “pivotal role” in ongoing and forthcoming projects pertaining to the business expansion plan of the MIAX Exchange Group.
These projects represent passage through a transitional phase for the company: moving from the provision of services such as “electronic trading of options” into “cash equities, futures and innovative products, including digital securities and crypto assets and derivatives”. MIAX Exchange Group is also taking this
“We are very pleased to welcome such an experienced industry veteran to our executive team…
Mark is a proven leader and his extensive background will be invaluable to MIH as we seek to establish our presence in the U.S. futures market and expand our product offerings.”
Thomas P. Gallagher (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MIH)
MIAX Exchange group is a subsidiary of parent holding company ‘Miami International Holdings’ (MIH), and is comprised of the MIAX Options, MIAX PEARL and MIAX Emerald options exchanges (the MIAX Exchange Group).
The press release continues to detail that it had, on the same day, unveiled plans to open a new office in Washington D.C. within the first year of this year.
“Mark’s strategic and visionary approach, as well as his wealth of knowledge in innovative investment products, will support our continued expansion of new asset class offerings,”
Barbara J. Comly (Executive Vice President and General Counsel, MIH)
A separate announcement, entitled ‘Miami International Holdings Reports 2019 Trading Results, Market Share and Volume Records for MIAX Exchange Group’ was published on January 29, 2020.
This report contains a list of “other” quantitative and qualitative accomplishments; in addition to year-end trading data for 2019 for the MIAX Exchange Group (MIAX, MIAX PEAR, and MIAX Emerald).
These include:
MIAX
- Awarded first place within the “Most Innovative Exchange Technology” category at the ‘Fund Technology and WSL Awards 2019’.
- Volatility options trading successfully launched on the SPIKES Volatility Index (ticker: SPIKE) on February 19, 2019.
MIAX Emerald
- “Successful” launch on March 1, 2019 – marking its induction into the ‘MIAX Exchange Group’.
- Achieved 1% market share on April 2, 2019, 23 days following launch.
MIH
- Attained and publicly announced controlling interest in the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
- All claims asserted against MIH by Nasdaq (pertaining to six of its patents) were invalidated by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Established and announced several key strategic partnerships
Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Inc
MGEX will act as the “exclusive exchange” for the listing, trading and clearance of futures products on the SPIKES Volatility Index. This is subject to gaining approval from relevant regulators.
Advanced Fundamentals, LLC
Advanced Fundamentals, an owner and developer of “next generation beta indexes”, has been tasked with the development of a comprehensive range of proprietary financial products based on Advanced Fundamentals’ commercial real estate indexes (CRE Indexes).
MidChains
Upcoming digital asset trading exchange based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The partnership will see the exchange working closely with MIH to produce “joint technology licensing and product listing opportunities internationally”. MIH had previously entered into an agreement which stipulated its acquisition of an equity stake in the parent company of MidChains, MEEG Holdings Limited’.
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