(Bloomberg) — High-speed trading firm Optiver has hired former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner Jan Boomaars to run its European business.
Boomaars, who worked at Goldman for 21 years, will become Optivers European chief executive officer on Oct. 1, according to a statement on Friday. The role was previously handled by global CEO Paul Hilgers, who took over fromEdwin van der Kruk.
Electronic market maker Optiver — sometimes called a high- frequency trading firm — is based in Amsterdam, a city with a history of stock trading dating back to 1603. Its now a world center for electronic trading.
Optivers name stands for optie verhandelaar, or options and trader. It began on the floor of Amsterdams European Options Exchange in 1986. Now, it has offices in Chicago, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan, trading listed derivatives, stocks, exchange-traded funds, bonds and currencies. It employs about 240 traders worldwide and 105 in its Amsterdam offices.
Optiver made a net profit of 267.7 million euros ($305.6 million) in 2014.
Boomaars was Goldmans head of equities execution and clearing in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, becominga partner in 2006. The Dutch citizen started the banks program- trading business in Europe and worked in its electronic-trading unit. Boomaars also breeds pedigree cattle.
