Putnam and Lefebvre leave NYSE Euronext

Lawrence Putnam, the Chicago-based vice-chairman of the exchange operating company, stood down to become a senior adviser, the company said. He will continue to work in the company's Chicago office.

Putnam was the chairman, CEO and founder of Archipelago, the electronic exchange that was taken over by the New York Stock Exchange in March last year. He became co-chief operating officer of NYSE Group, as the exchange became known, after the merger. When NYSE Group in turn merged with Euronext, he became vice-chairman of the merged company.

He will be replaced by Lawrence Leibowitz, who joined in July this year as chief operating officer. Leibowitz will retain his current post and duties, and will also take over the task of integrating the company's equity platform and developing its US options business.

Olivier Lefebvre announced his departure on Friday "to pursue new personal projects", but will stay as head of Euronext Brussels and a member of NYSE Euronext's management committee until his proposed successor, Bruno Colmant, is approved by the board and by regulators later this month. Colmant is chief of staff for the Belgian finance minister, Didier Reynders.