The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has appointed executive director of the Paris-based European Banking Authority (EBA) as its new chief executive.
Adam Farkas will lead AFME as CEO from 1 February next year, succeeding Simon Lewis who confirmed his decision to step down from the role in April having helmed the association since 2010.
“We carried out an extensive search of the pan-European market and Adam was clearly the outstandingly qualified candidate,” AFME chairman, Michael Cole-Fontayn, commented. “His combination of leadership, technical and communications skills are an ideal combination for AFME and we look forward to welcoming him to our board, as CEO.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Simon for all he has achieved during his nine years as AFME’s founding chief executive. In that time, he has overseen the development of AFME into a truly pan-European trade group with 80 people based in offices in London, Brussels and Frankfurt.”
Farkas has been an executive director with the EBA since 2011, where he has been responsible for the day-to-day running of the institution. He has also served as chairman of the Hungarian Financial Supervisory Association, and formerly held several senior central banking and private sector roles.
“I am delighted to hand over the reins to Adam,” Lewis also commented. “He is widely respected internationally, with the right experience and personal style and I am sure he will be a fine leader of AFME in the next stage of its development. It has been a great privilege to lead AFME and we mark our tenth anniversary this autumn with a real sense of achievement.”