JOB CYCLE

Patrick Brazel has unexpectedly left his position as head of Infinity's international sales and distribution operations. Brazel was responsible for the vendor's sales, support and distribution arm. Sources say that Brazel's departure stems from a "long political war behind the scenes" over product strategy and management style (Derivatives & Risk Technology, July 20).

Brazel was previously president at SunGard Capital Markets before it merged with Infinity Financial Technology and Renaissance Software at the beginning of the year (RMO, January 12). All three companies were subsidiaries of SunGard Data Systems' trading systems group, overseen by Cristobal Conde.

Officials have not yet named a replacement, although sources tip Rick McCarthy as Brazel's successor. Michael Laven, Infinity's chief operating officer and president is now managing Brazel's former group.

Brian Williamson will succeed Jack Wigglesworth as the new and first full-time chairman of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (Liffe). Industry observers note that Williamson's appointment comes as Liffe attempts to regain market dominance after losing much of its Bund futures business to the Deutsche Terminborse (DTB). Williamson will retire as Gerrard Group's chairman when he assumes his new responsibilities next month.

Meanwhile, Daniel Hodson, Liffe's chief executive, has resigned to allow Williamson more control over decision-making. John Foyle will be acting chief executive until a replacement is named.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has made two new appointments. Wendelin Hartmann has been named chairman of the committee on payment and settlement systems (CPSS). Until recently, Hartmann served as chairman for the BIS's working group on EU payment systems.

Hartmann succeeds William McDonough, who was appointed last month as the new chairman of the BIS's Basle Committee on Banking Supervision (RMO, June 15). In addition to his role as chairman of the CPSS, Hartmann is a senior executive officer at the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Separately, Roger Ferguson replaces Ernest Patrikis as chairman of the BIS's recently formed Joint Year 2000 Committee. Last year Ferguson became a member of the board of governors of the US's Federal Reserve System. He was previously a partner at McKinsey & Company, the New York-based management consultancy firm.

The BIS also opened a new representative office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. George Pickering, chief representative, will head a six-strong team in Hong Kong.

TCA Consulting, the London-based risk management consultancy house, has appointed Max Goodison as a client director. He will also focus on European business development. Goodison was previously a director at CA Consulting, a technology consultancy firm, where he held a similar role.

-- Olivia Mercado