Key Takeaways
- • Goldman Sachs recruited George Tsimperopoulos, co-chief technology officer at hedge fund Capula Investment Management, to strengthen its electronic equities trading technology capabilities in London.
- • Tsimperopoulos joined Goldman last month and specializes in ultra low-latency DMA algorithmic trading, market data exchange, and client connectivity FIX engines—areas critical to competitive electronic trading operations.
- • The hire signals Goldman's strategic focus on systematic trading technology, with Goldman COO John Waldron recently stating the bank is "not satisfied" with current performance and sees significant growth opportunity in this segment.
- • Tsimperopoulos brings deep expertise from high-frequency and algorithmic trading environments, having previously served as head of technology at Systematica Investments and BlueCrest before his six-year tenure at Capula.
- • The recruitment reflects ongoing talent competition in electronic trading technology, as Goldman has aggressively hired senior technology leaders including Mike Blum (former KCG Holdings CTO in 2017) and Matt Kilsby (former Systematica COO in 2018).
Summary
The hire reinforces Goldman's stated strategic commitment to strengthening its systematic trading capabilities. In recent comments, Goldman COO John Waldron indicated the firm is "not satisfied" with current performance in systematic trading and views the segment as an area with substantial growth potential. Tsimperopoulos' appointment represents part of a broader talent acquisition strategy in electronic trading technology leadership, following the 2017 recruitment of Mike Blum, former chief technology officer of high-frequency trading firm KCG Holdings, to oversee the division's overall technology infrastructure.
Tsimperopoulos brings a track record across leading algorithmic and hedge fund trading environments. Prior to Capula, he spent two years as head of technology at Systematica Investments, and earlier served as head of technology at BlueCrest Capital Management. His background also includes a tenure at Merrill Lynch, which he departed in 2013. Notably, Tsimperopoulos will reunite with Matt Kilsby at Goldman, whom the bank hired in July 2018 as managing director of electronic trading technology; Kilsby previously served as chief operating officer at Systematica. Industry insiders expressed confidence in the appointment, though noted concerns regarding potential talent transitions once non-solicit agreements expire, particularly given Goldman's documented challenges retaining electronic equities traders in the U.S., where departures to rival banks and hedge funds have accelerated.
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