Lightspeed Institutional, a division of Lightspeed Trading LLC, is broadening its offering to institutional traders by launching a new prime brokerage division. As part of this launch, Lightspeed has added senior staff to help meet the unique needs of its small to mid-size hedge fund clients.
Lightspeed Trading has specialized in serving the active trading community and providing execution services to institutional clients through its agency trading desk. As a natural extension, it is now broadening its reach to the institutional market with products and services for the established as well as the start-up hedge fund by launching its prime brokerage division.
Lightspeed Institutional has also welcomed Craig Aronoff to its team as EVP of Prime Brokerage Services. Aronoff began his career at Shearson Lehman Brothers as a financial consultant. Most recently he founded Victor Securities, a firm providing technology-driven brokerage solutions to professional traders.
Thomas Gibb, Co-President of Lightspeed Trading said:
Craig brings a wealth of experience and an extensive network in the hedge fund and professional trading industry. He understands the needs of this community and is a tremendous asset to the Lightspeed team.
Craig Aronoff, EVP of Prime Brokerage Services at Lightspeed Institutional commented:
Lightspeed Institutional offers a variety of tools that are very attractive to the small to mid-size hedge fund. From infrastructure to technology to our outstanding support staff, our hedge fund clients receive the attention and resources they need to succeed. I’m very excited to be welcomed into the Lightspeed family.
In addition, Joe Minton has joined Lightspeed from Livevol Securities to manage its agency trading desk. Minton began his derivatives career in 1998 as an equity option market maker and volatility trader, bringing over 15 years of trading experience to the team.
The agency desk provides liquidity sourcing services to institutions, high net worth individuals, and active traders, specializing in block orders, thinly traded securities, and flex options.