FOW International award winners announced

Winners were announced on Thursday at an event hosted at The Waldorf Hilton in London, with the number and quality of submissions reaching a recent high.

The recipient of the chief executive of the year award was Thomas Gallagher, chairman and chief executive of MIAX, who reflected on a transformative year for the exchange group.

“Receiving this award means a great deal, since this past year has been nothing short of extraordinary for MIAX, and it reflects the significant milestones we have achieved,” Gallagher said in a video acceptance.

Speaking to FOW last month, Gallagher reflected on some of those milestones, which included expanding the US options franchise, revamping and expanding the futures offering, and completing an initial public offering with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

“I think the truly successful companies are the ones that foster a culture of commitment and that is what I am so proud of having achieved at MIAX,” Gallagher added. “As you know success is never a solo effort, and with that being said I would like to dedicate this evening’s award to the entire MIAX team, for their vision, their commitment and their dedication over the past 18 years.”

The award was accepted on his behalf by Alex Taylor, business development lead at the International Stock Exchange (TISE). MIAX acquired TISE in June, in a boost to international ambitions.

Industry veteran Keith Todd was the deserved recipient of the lifetime achievement award, and gave an impassioned speech about the progress made and outlook for the derivatives industry.

“There is an incredible group of people that are out there,” Todd said. “It's the innovation, it's the integrity, it's the trust, it's the cash that flows through this industry. But as we move forward, the future is looking exceptionally bright. Incredibly, the emergence of new ways of trading, the level of participation – all of that means the future is up and positive.”

The award was accepted on his behalf by Hamish Purdey.

Congratulations to all the award winners. Our sincere gratitude goes out to every participant who submitted entries, our generous sponsors, and all the attendees who graced us with their presence, contributing to a memorable event.