FX trading algorithms deliver
quick, transparent and auditable
execution in the market place
How long have you been in the FX
trading industry? How did you come to
have a career within FX trading?
I have been trading for 23 years across
a broad spectrum of financial products.
I was formerly at Cargill where I traded
agricultural commodities, and laterally
FX and Interest Rate products. I then
joined Pareto Partners where I traded
FX and multi-strategy products. Pareto
merged subsequently with Insight
Investment where I now specialise
in algorithmic trading (and TCA) for
FX and Equity products. As a school
leaver I worked for Rolls Royce as an
engineer making steam turbines and
all the ancillary equipment. When I was
studying for my degree (as a sponsored
student) it became very clear that the
industry was struggling in the UK. It was
then I decided to look for a new career.
I decided on commodity trading as it
complimented my skills as an engineer
and was employed, during an extended
interview with Cargill, following a
summer internship. (I hold a BEng in
Civil and environmental engineering.)
Do you have any interests outside of
work to help relieve the day to day
stresses of trading? Are you able to
achieve a good work life balance?
Yes, too many to mention! Am head
coach of a junior rugby team which is a
great distraction. My wife also coaches
and my children (Max aged 9 and Lil-
Maya aged 5) both play. The family also
have season tickets to the Harlequins
who we love to watch. Rugby is a
theme at home! I also love all sports
(unfortunately a Newcastle United fan)
and am particularly active in cycling.
I commute on a bicycle and get out
most weekends with some friends for
an early ride out into the countryside.
The family enjoy holidaying in Cornwall
with a focus on surfing, coasteering,
kayaking and paddle boarding. Am also
an active member of the Scottish Malt
Whisky Society. All these interests keep
my feet firmly on the ground and help
to put things that are important into
perspective, which is very important
after a stressful day.
Automation will allow easier
capture of exceptions and
the trader will focus more of
his time in managing this and
delivering improvements to
the investment process to
deliver added value
Understanding what people
need/want from you is of
paramount importance to being
a good trader
What do you think are the most
important qualities to be a FX trader?
• Ask questions – no question
should be ignored.
• Being personable – we face
a lot of different people with
many differing roles/objectives.
Understanding what people need/
want from you is of paramount
importance to being a good trader.
• Have an appropriate analytical
mind - you need to be able to
focus on the day to day attention
to detail, and also be able to look
at the bigger picture to plan for the
future.
Summer 2019
www.buysideintel.com
33