Chicago-based R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO) is stepping up its sales and trading desk, moving into the metals market and has hired two bullion market veterans to spearhead its effort.
The firm announced it has recruited bullion market veterans Kevin Danca and Michael Connolly as directors, in its FX and Precious Metals group. Both will be based in RJO’s New York office and focus on building an institutional trading and sales desk.
Danca and Connolly will focus on attracting and providing high-touch trading service to hedge funds and commodity trading advisors, building off the over-the-counter, exchange-for-physical and block futures trading capabilities.
Danca joined RJO from HSBC Bank USA, N.A. in New York, where he served as vice president, global precious metals since 2011. In that role, he was responsible for covering hedge funds within the precious metals markets. Prior to HSBC, Danca was director, precious and base metals at Newedge USA from 2010 to 2011. From 1993 to 2010, he was a seat owner on the COMEX floor, where he served as principal, managing multiple trading and marketing firms.
Connolly, a 16-year veteran of the precious metals markets, joined from Citrine Capital Management in New York, where he was a head trader. Prior to that, Connolly spent 14 years at HSBC, where he was senior vice president and chief dealer, global precious metals trading. He began his career at Republic New York Securities.
Danca and Connolly will report to Matthew Ardizzone, RJO’s global head of FX sales.
