HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited), one of the leading exchange operators, announced it has opened a new office in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday to support its growing international client base and expand the group's global footprint.

According to the press release, the New York office will connect trading hubs in the United States and Hong Kong and allow customers from the US to cooperate with Mainland China's market. Its main goal is to boost the promotion of HKEX's primary and secondary cash markets.

HKEX New York Office to Bridge US and Hong Kong

"At HKEX, we are fully focused on supporting the growth ambitions of our customers around the globe, and I am therefore today delighted to announce the opening of our New York office. We look forward to deepening our relationships with investors, companies and risk managers across the region, connecting capital with opportunities and East with West," Nicolas Aguzin, the Chief Executive Officer of HKEX, said.

"I am confident the office will play a vital role as we continue to build the vibrancy and attractiveness of our markets and our unique China Connect programmes."

Prior to the launch of the New York branch, HKEX already had a subsidiary in the United States, HKEX (US.) LLC. The New York office is beginning to build a team that will work with local clients and investors, as well as with the exchange's other international offices located in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. Moreover, HKEX plans to launch an office in Europe soon.

McAvoy Takes the Lead in HKEX New York Office

Roger McAvoy, the Managing Director and Head of Business Development for North American markets, takes the lead in the newest branch in his role as he focuses on promoting Hong Kong's exchange offering. He will still directly report to Kevin Rideout, the Co-Head of Sales and Marketing at HKEX.

McAvoy has been associated with the company since 2017 and heads its corporate subsidiary in the US, HKEX (US.) LLC. According to the company's statement, he was responsible for setting up HKEX's office in Singapore when he held the role of Head of ASEAN Business Development.

In the past, McAvoy worked for Deutsche Boerse's 360T OTC FX analytics platform, being responsible for relationship management and institutional sales in the Asian region. Additionally, he was employed by Tradeweb and Thomson Financial, where he led commercial product management and institutional client coverage teams.

In November, HKEX appointed Narendra Hegde, the Director of International Sales for Asia at the Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) Group, as the Head of Business Development in South Asia and the Middle East. He brings over 18 years of experience in client services and sales to the company.