Risk 25 firms of the future: GFI Group

Exchange ambitions

Michael Gooch, GFI Group

If bravery is defined as sticking your neck out and making bold predictions during a period of extreme uncertainty, then Michael Gooch, chief executive of GFI Group, is a brave man.

He says the brokerage he founded in 1987 will follow in the footsteps of rival Icap – which acquired Plus Stock Exchange in May – and buy an exchange. Bilaterally executed over-the-counter trades will account for no more than 5% of the business of any of the big brokers in the future, he says, which will lead to cons