BATS’ Chi-X Europe COO Leaves for Morgan Stanley

Paul O’Donnell, chief operating officer for BATS Chi-X Europe, announced today that he’s departing  the firm to join Morgan Stanley.

O’Donnell, who has worked for BATS since 2008, will return to the broker at the end of the summer. A press release said he was leaving for personal reasons. He joins Morgan Stanley as a managing director in its New York City office, where he worked for 14 years prior to joining BATS, according to the release.

"After an exciting four years with BATS Europe, my family and I have decided it is time for us to return to New York," O’Donnell said in a statement. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with BATS and I am proud of what we have achieved. It has been a privilege to work with a tremendous team and I look forward to new challenges at Morgan Stanley."

He was one of the founding employees of the BATS Europe multilateral trading facility. His team will begin reporting directly to Mark Hemsley, chief executive officer of BATS Chi-X Europe.