Thomas Downes Joins Aquis Exchange as Head of Markets
Aquis Exchange has appointed Thomas Downes as its new Head of Markets. The change comes as Aquis expands its pan-European multilateral trading facility (MTF). Downes replaces David Stevens in this role. Stevens transitioned to the position of Chief Executive Officer at Aquis Exchange.
Who is Thomas Downes?
Thomas Downes has a long track record in electronic trading. He served as Head of Electronic Trading Sales & Strategy at ITG. He continued in the same capacity at Virtu after it acquired ITG. Downes began his career at Merrill Lynch. There, he worked on technology and product development for fixed income and foreign exchange. Before joining Aquis, he was Managing Partner at fintech advisory firm IOX Partners.
His Role at Aquis Exchange
Downes takes on the role of Head of Markets at Aquis Exchange. He will be based in the London office and will join the Executive Committee. His responsibilities include leading the strategy, operations, and growth of Aquis’ pan-European MTF. He will also be responsible for continuing the strong performance the Markets division achieved in the first half of 2025.
Industry Outlook and Remarks
Downes said he is excited to join Aquis following its acquisition by SIX. He highlighted the company’s motivation for growth across all business divisions. He also emphasized the potential to drive innovation, strengthen Aquis’ presence in European trading, and deliver value to clients and investors.
About Aquis Exchange
Alasdair Haynes founded Aquis Exchange in 2012. It is a pan-European trading platform based in London. It offers a subscription-based model for trading cash equities across 16 European markets. Aquis charges users based on message traffic rather than trade value. Aquis also develops and licenses exchange technology through its Aquis Technologies division. SIX acquired Aquis Exchange in 2024.
Summing Up
The company aims to speed up its growth in European trading with Downes leading the Markets division.
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