Financial services firm BTIG opens in capital

GLOBAL financial services firm BTIG is opening its first Scottish location this month.

The New York-based group launches in Edinburgh seven years after it landed in London at the time of the crash in 2008, and it serves institutional and corporate clients from a total 14 locations throughout North A mer ic a , Europe and Asia-Pacific.

BTIG specialises in global trading and fund services for hedge funds, mutual funds, separate accounts and family offices, and covers institutional trading, investment banking, research and related brokerage services.

Gary Heyes, chief executive, said Edinburgh was a natural extension of the firm’s London presence and the ideal location for growth in the region, as Scotland had increasingly become a global hub for banking, fund management, insurance, life assurance and pensions and professional services.

“Building upon our strong UK client base, the Edinburgh office will offer the ability to develop stronger relationships in the region,” Mr Heyes said.

“With this debut in Scotland, we look forward to working with clients to provide premier solutions.” The Edinburgh office will be managed by Stephen Harley, BTIG’s managing director of institutional equities, who previously held a similar role at JP Morgan.

Matt Cyzer, the group’s president and head of European equities, said the trader-founded firm had seen strong and consistent growth since its inception, building on sophisticated global capability.

He said: “Expanding our global footprint by leveraging local expertise in new territories worldwide allows us to offer products and services to a larger global audience.”

The firm is expected to open in the capital next week and announce hires in due course.