Citigroup Onboards Robert Smolen from JPMorgan to Head EMEA Exotics Trading

Citigroup is shaking up its equity derivatives, as the bank is rumoured to have taken on JP Morgan’s Robert Smolen to head its exotic equity derivatives trading for Europe, Middle East and Africa, according to a memo seen by IFR.

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Robert’s arrival at Citi looks like particularly good news for equity derivatives traders as the bank shuffles management in its Equities unit. The bank’s global hybrids trading team will report to Smolen to bring the hybrids and exotics trading teams closer together.

Having joined JPMorgan Chase in 2006, Smolen most recently served as Executive Director of Equity Exotics & Hybrids Trading. Earlier in his career, he was appointed Vice President of Global Equity Exotics Market Risk.

The memo also said that Citi has brought over Rob Pitcher and Cornelius Griffin to co-run its equity derivatives business, taking over from Emmanuel Girod, who formerly served as BAML’s London-based head of global linked products.

Girod parted ways with Citi in April 2017.

The moves of Pitcher and Griffin reflect a period of resurgent hiring in the equity derivatives market after a strong first quarter. Pitcher was head of EMEA exotic equity trading and Griffin had the corresponding role in North America.