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Marex has strengthened its push into the rapidly expanding exchange-traded fund market with the appointment of ETF industry veteran Matt Johnson as head of Business Development, ETF Capital Markets – EMEA.
Based in London, Johnson will be responsible for developing relationships with ETF and exchange-traded product (ETP) issuers, asset managers and institutional investors across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He joins Marex’s Prime Services business as the firm seeks to extend its ETF capital markets platform beyond the US.
The appointment comes as global demand for ETFs continues to accelerate, with institutional investors increasingly using the vehicles to gain efficient exposure across traditional asset classes as well as alternatives, commodities and digital assets. Industry assets have continued to reach record levels as issuers launch increasingly specialised and actively managed products.
Johnson brings more than three decades of experience across institutional markets, derivatives and ETFs, having previously held senior roles at Invesco, Source ETF, ETF Securities, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan. Most recently, he was Commercial and Business Development Lead for EMEA at Quantifeed, advising financial technology businesses serving wealth managers.
Marex said the appointment builds on the momentum of its US ETF Capital Markets business, where it has developed services for ETF issuers spanning product structuring, funding, execution, clearing, custody and customised exposure management.
The expansion reflects a broader strategy by Marex to diversify its institutional offering beyond its traditional strengths in commodities and derivatives. Since listing on Nasdaq in 2024, the firm has continued to invest across prime brokerage, clearing and capital markets as it seeks to grow its global institutional franchise.
Matt Johnson said he was joining Marex at “an exciting stage” in the development of its ETF business.
“The team has built an impressive platform in the US and there is a significant opportunity to build on that success internationally,” he said. “ETF adoption continues to accelerate, particularly as investors seek more efficient, transparent and innovative investment solutions.”
Massimo Labella, co-head of International Prime Brokerage and Outsourced Trading at Marex, said Johnson’s experience across ETF capital markets and institutional sales would support the firm’s continued expansion across EMEA.
The appointment represents another step in Marex’s strategy of building a broader institutional markets platform around its growing Prime Services business, as demand for ETF issuance and capital markets expertise continues to increase.