Standard Chartered poaches JP Morgan Chase veteran

Standard Chartered has hired JP Morgan Chase veteran Richard Leighton as global head of foreign exchange options in London.

Leighton will manage all aspects of the bank’s forex options business, including trading, structuring and modelling activities across all locations. He will report to Nick Beecroft, global head of foreign exchange trading.

Leighton has worked at JP Morgan Chase since 1993 in a number of senior roles, including two years in New York as global head of derivatives research, covering forex options and commodities, where his responsibilities included foreign exchange options marketing and electronic pricing strategy. He has also spent four years in Singapore as head of forex options for Asia. Most recently, he was managing director and head of European commodities trading and marketing. Previously, Leighton spent six years at HSBC and was head of foreign exchange exotic options trading before he left.

Beecroft commented that Leighton will focus on further developing the bank’s business and market presence in the options area, and will build on the "leading position Standard Chartered already enjoys in many currency markets".

“I am confident that, with his extensive experience in this business, he will significantly enhance the capabilities of our foreign exchange team,” said Beecroft. He added that the firm will be looking at expanding the team in line with the growth of its business globally.

Leighton replaces Tim Carrington, who left the bank earlier in the year to pursue other interests, the bank said.