Obsession with competition isn't healthy for exchanges

Market operators spend too much time chasing their competitors and launching ‘me too' products when they need to be concentrating on the needs of their customers, the European Energy Exchange's Steffen Köhler argues

EEX's Köhler: "Product development should always be solution-driven"

It is no secret that market operators are constantly striving to beat the competition. Endeavouring to be faster, smarter and more efficient than your competitors is imperative in our business, or in any other business. But in the race to the top, we must not lose sight of why we are competing and what we are competing for: customers.

In my view, those of us in the exchange business risk overlooking what's really important in our unending struggle for market share – the needs of our customers