The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has confirmed its chief strategy officer has decided to leave his position after more than 16 years with the exchange.
David Lester was named head of LSE’s corporate strategy in 2011 and was responsible for the Group’s mergers and acquisitions and development of core growth initiatives.
He has been a member of LSE’s Executive Committee since he joined in 2001 as chief information officer, taking responsibility for both its technology and market data businesses, before becoming group director of information services in 2009.
LSE’s information services annual revenues increased by £98 million under Lester’s control between 2001 and 2009.
He was significant in LSE’s acquisition of Turquoise in 2010 and, shortly afterwards, he was appointed chief executive and chairman of Turquoise.
In 2011, LSE secured full ownership of index provider FTSE International, which increased its share from an initial 50% in a bid to grow its derivatives and index product offering.
Speaking to The TRADE in 2011, Lester said that the acquisition of the remaining 50% of FTSE would provide the exchange with full control and greater flexibility to integrate the index company into its existing portfolio of businesses and future strategy.
He sits as a board member at CurveGlobal and globesettle and is chairman of the board at FTSE Russell and Turquoise.