Electronic Execution Sales Trading Desk Head

Citi; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Annual bonus

Private medical care

Pension plan

Job summary

Citi London seeks a seasoned leader to co-manage its EMEA electronic execution franchise, spanning algorithmic trading, DMA and SOR across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. You will shape strategy, drive revenue growth, and oversee sophisticated execution platforms in a fast-paced, regulated environment.

You will lead cross-functional teams with a focus on low-latency trading, analytics, and client service, while ensuring compliance and risk governance are embedded in every initiative.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior experience in electronic equity execution.
• Proven front-office P&L leadership.
• Strong client coverage with buy-side and C-suite stakeholders.
• Technical fluency with market microstructure and low-latency execution tech.
• Deep understanding of MiFID II and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborative, meritocratic mindset in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the EMEA electronic execution franchise, defining strategic direction and resource allocation.
• Serve as primary relationship owner for key institutional clients and translate feedback into product/tech enhancements.
• Collaborate with Prime Services, equity product teams, research and technology to expand reach and optimize execution.
• Oversee development and performance of execution algorithms and monitor TCA with quants and developers.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives including market connectivity, dark pools, AI/ML enhancements and new product launches.
• Recruit, develop and mentor a high-performing team with strong risk governance and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Executive leadership

P&L management

Client relationship mgmt

Low-latency trading

Quantitative analytics

MiFID II compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Market microstructure

Tools

EMS/OMS

Job description

At Citi Markets, we win together. In a rapidly changing world, our shared vision gives us the clarity, agility and global perspectives we need to shape the future. That's why collaboration plays a central role in how we deliver for clients, develop our people, and grow our business. Our Equities business is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and capital markets, where we combine cutting-edge electronic trading infrastructure with deep institutional relationships across our global client franchise. As one of the world's leading providers of algorithmic trading, Direct Market Access (DMA), and Smart Order Routing (SOR) solutions, we are building the next generation of equity execution platforms. Our open, supportive culture empowers us to share clients, ideas, and success—because, in the long-term, that's not just the best way to do things, it's the only way to win.

The Co-Head of EMEA Electronic Execution is a senior, strategic leadership role responsible for jointly managing, developing, and scaling Citi's electronic trading franchise across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the industry's most sophisticated equity execution platforms at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. You will oversee the full suite of electronic trading products—including algorithmic trading suites, Direct Market Access (DMA), Smart Order Routing (SOR), crossing engines, and multi-asset connectivity platforms—while serving as a key point of contact for our most important institutional clients. In this role, you will drive both revenue growth and operational excellence, working at the nexus of sales, technology, quantitative research, and product innovation.

Primary Responsibilities of the Role

• Lead and scale the EMEA electronic execution franchise, working in partnership with your Co-Head to define strategic direction, allocate resources, oversee P&L performance, and drive growth across algorithmic trading, DMA, SOR, and crossing network products
• Serve as a primary relationship owner and strategic advisor for key institutional clients utilizing Citi's electronic trading tools, ensuring exceptional service delivery, gathering client feedback, and translating market intelligence into product and technology enhancements
• Partner closely with Prime Services, equity product teams, quantitative research, and technology divisions to expand product reach, onboard new client flows, optimize execution quality, and develop innovative solutions that respond to evolving market structure and regulatory dynamics (including MiFID II and best execution requirements)
• Oversee the development and performance optimization of sophisticated execution algorithms, ensuring competitiveness in low-latency environments, monitoring Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), and collaborating with quants and developers to refine trading logic and improve fill rates
• Drive strategic initiatives and cross-functional collaboration, including market connectivity expansions, dark pool integrations, AI/ML-driven execution enhancements, and new product launches, while managing stakeholder alignment across sales, trading, compliance, and operations
• Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of electronic trading professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while maintaining robust risk management, policy governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks

What We Need from You

• Extensive experience in electronic equity execution at a senior level (Director or equivalent), with deep expertise across algorithmic trading strategies, Direct Market Access (DMA), Smart Order Routing (SOR), and execution management systems (EMS/OMS) in EMEA markets
• Proven leadership and P&L management experience in a front-office revenue-generating capacity, with a demonstrated track record of building and scaling electronic trading businesses, managing client relationships, and driving commercial outcomes in a highly competitive environment
• Strong institutional client coverage and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with buy-side trading desks, portfolio managers, and C-suite stakeholders at asset managers, hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds
• Technical fluency and quantitative rigor, including familiarity with market microstructure, order types, liquidity sourcing, TCA frameworks, and low-latency execution technology; experience working with quants, developers, and technologists to enhance product capabilities is essential
• Deep understanding of EMEA equity market structure and regulatory requirements, including MiFID II, best execution obligations, market access controls, and evolving regulatory standards across European venues
• Collaborative, agile, and tenacious mindset with the ability to navigate complexity, influence cross-functional teams, and thrive in a fast-paced, meritocratic environment where honesty, teamwork, and a will-to-win are core to our culture

What Citi Can Offer You

By joining Citi London, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• A discretional annual performance related bonus
• Private Medical Care & Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
• Access to an array of learning and development resources

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self, every day.

We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

Candidates applying for this role must be aware that it is a Certified Role, subject to the FCA and PRA Certification Regime. The Certification Regime is one element of the Individual Accountability Regime which came into effect on 7 March 2016. Under the Certification Regime, Citi UK regulated entities (Citi entities) must ensure that employees working in certain roles categorised as specified significant harm functions (Certified Roles) are assessed as fit and proper to carry out their role.

Under the guidance provided by the FCA and PRA, firms should have regard to the following when assessing fitness and propriety:

• Honesty, Integrity and Reputation
• Financial soundness
• Competence and capability

In order to comply with the requirements of the Certification Regime, Citi entities must take reasonable care to ensure that an employee does not perform a Certified Role without first being certified as Fit and Proper. For this reason, you will be assessed for this role against the Fit and Proper requirements, as described above.

This assessment will be carried out through extensive interviews, self-disclosures, permitted criminal record checks, regulated reference checks, credit checks and other background screening checks.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.