By Mark McSherry

Big changes have been announced in the past week at Switzerland-based SIX Exchange Group AG, which operates exchanges across the Spanish and Swiss financial centres and recently agreed to buy Aquis Exchange Plc, London’s challenger stock market.

Bjørn Sibbern has been appointed CEO, effective January 1, 2025.

Sibbern will succeed Jos Dijsselhof, who will step down “to pursue a new professional opportunity in the Middle East” after seven years with SIX.

Dijsselhof successfully developed SIX commercially and expanded it internationally.

SIX is owned by around 120 national and international financial institutions.

Since the beginning of 2024, Sibbern has been leading the international exchange business of SIX as Global Head Exchanges and a member of the Group Executive Board.

Sibbern, a Danish national, has more than two decades of experience in capital markets, including various international positions at Nasdaq, OMX Exchanges and as CEO of E*TRADE Bank Denmark.

At Nasdaq, Sibbern served as Executive Vice President and President of European Markets. In this role, he led the Nasdaq markets and exchanges across the Nordic and Baltic regions. He was also responsible for trading, listing, clearing, settlement, and the data business in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and the Baltic nations.

Prior to this, Sibbern was Executive Vice President and responsible for Nasdaq global data, data & analytics and index business working out of Nasdaq headquarters in New York.

SIX chairman Thomas Wellauer said: “I am delighted that in Bjørn, we have been able to appoint a proven and highly connected capital markets expert from our ranks as new CEO.

“Since joining SIX a year ago, we have experienced Bjørn as a strong, highly motivated and proactive leader. With his excellent track record, Bjørn has the necessary international expertise and leadership qualities to further pursue and accelerate the growth path of SIX”.

SIX said Dijsselhof “successfully implemented the strategic realignment of SIX with the sale of the card business to Worldline and further diversified the company’s business portfolio.”

The firm added: “Under his leadership, SIX executed key acquisitions – most notably the purchase of the Spanish Stock Exchange BME – along with other international investments, particularly in the financial information sector, which have driven substantial and sustainable growth.

“Jos Dijsselhof will remain at SIX until the end of February 2025 and ensure a smooth transition.”

Wellauer added: “On behalf of the Board of Directors of SIX, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Jos for his dedicated leadership.

“Over the past seven years, he has strengthened the international footprint of SIX, championed innovation such as SDX, and has been instrumental in transforming and modernizing the corporate culture of SIX, thus positioning the company for further success. We wish Jos all the best in his new endeavors.”