BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP), a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, today announced the appointment of Eric T. Hirschhorn to the role of Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), reporting to Shaun D. Lynn, President of BGC, effective immediately.
Mr. Hirschhorn comes to BGC from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he has held various key positions leading global teams across Rates and FICC (Fixed Income, Currency and Commodity) eTrading technology. At BGC, he will assume global responsibility for maintaining and expanding the technology powering the Company’s growing portfolio of products related to hybrid and fully electronic trading, market data, and software solutions.
Mr. Lynn said: “Eric has the perfect combination of computer science prowess, a deep understanding of how the global capital markets function, and a long history of matching the needs of those who sit on trading desks with world-class solutions provided by industry-leading technologists. As we continue to innovate and expand BGC’s hybrid and fully electronic solutions for our customers and brokers in Financial Services, as well as expand our offerings in Real Estate Services, we need executives with an established track record of addressing complex technologies and businesses on a global scale. We believe that Eric’s abilities, experience and leadership will enable BGC to continue to develop and grow our hybrid and fully electronic businesses.”
Mr. Hirschhorn commented on his appointment: “I’m very excited to be joining BGC and the great team of brokers, salespeople, IT professionals, and others they have assembled. It’s clear that I’m joining an organization committed to innovating and implementing world-class technology solutions for its list of top-tier global customers. I look forward to being part of the next great chapters in the story of BGC’s growth.”
Mr. Hirschhorn joins BGC with more than 25 years of experience in technology roles across the financial services industry. In his recent positions, he managed global teams of more than 500 people and was responsible for directing hundreds of millions of dollars in technology-related investments. His most recent roles included Global Head of Rates and FICC eTrading Technology at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Prior to that, he was Chief Technology Officer of Fixed Income at Morgan Stanley. Before that, he held various senior trading technology positions at Citigroup including Global Head of FX Technology, Global Head of Electronic Credit, and Chair of the Capital Markets eCommerce Technology Working Group.
Mr. Hirschhorn’s career also includes having been a Senior Vice President at Lehman Brothers in the Fixed Income Technology area. He also spent 12 years at Chase Manhattan Bank and its predecessors, where he built and managed several technology-related businesses and functions. Mr. Hirschhorn earned his Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.