Non-profit member organisation for the equity marketplace, Plato Partnership, has added global market maker and liquidity provider Optiver as a sell-side member.
The addition of Optiver marks a significant milestone for the partnership as it becomes the first market-making company to join as a full member.
Plato Partnership stated that one of its core missions for 2023/24 is to broaden its horizons with the aim of hearing, considering and representing a wider array of market participants.
Adding Optiver will help represent the diverse interests of all market participants alongside fostering innovations to improve the overall market experience, according to Plato.
“As part of our mission to improve markets, we proactively seek to share our knowledge and expertise as a way of driving progress throughout our industry,” said Jan Boomaars, chief executive of Optiver.
“A leading forum for open discourse and debate on financial markets, the Plato Partnership is a natural venue for Optiver to continue this work.”
Optiver is set to appoint a representative to join Plato’s advisory committee, will actively engage in and contribute to the MI3 academic initiative, and become a valuable member of the Plato Turquoise Expert Group (TPEG).
“We are thrilled to welcome Optiver to Plato Partnership as our first market-making member. This collaboration aligns closely with our mission to foster a diverse and dynamic set of voices as we look to innovate the equity market,” said Mike Bellaro, chief executive of Plato Partnership.
“Optiver’s inclusion not only expands our membership base but also injects a new kind of expertise and innovation that will undoubtedly benefit not only our advisory committee and initiatives, but all market participants.”
Earlier this year, Plato Partnership added Liquidnet as an inaugural strategic partner, which followed the addition of Kepler Cheuvreux, UBS Asset Management and Pictet Asset Management as founding members late last year.
Elsewhere, Capital Group’s Simon Steward was appointed buy-side chair of Plato Partnership, replacing Christoph Hock, head of multi-asset trading at Union Investments, in October.