[ I N D E P T H | F O R E I G N E X C H A N G E ]
for this digital transformation, therefore, would be a more pronounced focus on high touch trading.
As Smith explains:“ In the industry as it is today, there is give and take. For some specialties, the vast majority of what people are trading can be done through automated platforms. But for some, there still needs to be a greater emphasis on the relationship building process and the learning process.
“ This is especially the case for the tougher, the bigger, or the larger voice trades, or specific trades that frankly need a different level of attention.”
In essence, there is a throughflow of skills development being manifested at Aberdeen, where junior traders are being encouraged early on to be able to specialise across numerous assets, with the aim of being able to thrive in these high touch situations that call for bespoke, nuanced client needs.
All the while, more routine disciplines and trades that would traditionally occupy the time and effort of these evolving traders, are pushed through the automation filter.
“ No amount of technology or AI can replace the experience that more difficult trades, trading environments, instruments, or even personalities call for,” affirms Smith.
He adds:“ High touch trading will always be essential in those situations. What automation really allows is for us to look at the composition of our dealing desk and to release more specialised and experienced dealers to focus on these more unique circumstances […] to build those relationships, to take the time called for from those clients, to address the nuances of more complex trades.”
Betting on – and trusting in – the next generation The transformation hinges on a dedication to making junior traders multi-disciplined and well-versed in more complex trade environments.
Specific training programmes geared towards knowledge transfer invite experienced traders to upskill junior members, with ongoing lessons and internal feedback sessions ensuring a smooth succession plan suited to the desk of the future.
In doing so, Aberdeen isn’ t just addressing a direct challenge caused by the retirement of two valued FX warhorses. The company is also addressing a more systemic challenge faced by the wider, global trading community.
“ I think I can speak for a lot of my peers, especially within FX,
when I say that as teams get older and more mature, being able to replace the talent with younger junior traders is, frankly, proving to be quite challenging.
“ However, it’ s got us thinking about what is truly an appropriate mix on a desk, and which technologies and platforms can help to form more of a connection with a junior trader. We need to learn and change based on the way people trade in the modern age.”
Aberdeen’ s approach reflects a broader recognition that the industry’ s experience gap cannot be solved through recruitment alone. By combining automation, multi-asset trading structures and targeted development programmes, the firm believes it can preserve institutional knowledge while adapting to evolving market demands and the realities of a new generation of traders.
58 // TheTRADE // Q2 2026