ASX Names Euronext Veteran Anthony Attia as CEO to Drive Market Overhaul
ASX names global exchange veteran Anthony Attia as new Managing Director and CEO
ASX Limited has appointed Anthony Attia as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2026, subject to obtaining relevant work authorisations in Australia. The appointment follows a comprehensive global search conducted by the ASX Board. Current Managing Director and CEO Helen Lofthouse will depart on 29 May 2026, with Group Executive Markets and Listings Darren Yip serving as Interim CEO to bridge the transition to Attia’s commencement.
ASX Chair David Clarke
“Following a comprehensive global search process, the Board is delighted to appoint someone of Anthony’s calibre. He brings deep exchange experience coupled with a proven track record of technology-enabled transformation and a clear understanding of the responsibilities that come with leading critical market infrastructure. I am confident he will build on the momentum at ASX and support the next stage of our transformation.”
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A career built at the centre of global exchange infrastructure
Attia brings close to three decades of exchange and market infrastructure experience spanning European and US markets. His career arc traces the consolidation and modernisation of some of the world’s most significant exchange groups, from the creation of a unified European marketplace through to leading post-trade and derivatives strategy across pan-European operations.
From French stock exchange floors to pan-European powerhouse
Attia’s career in financial markets began in 1997 when he joined the French Stock Exchange (Société des Bourses Françaises), where he played a role in the creation of Euronext through the integration of multiple national exchanges into a unified European platform. Over the following years, he progressed through senior operational and strategic roles, including Executive Director and Head of Operations, leading market operations, client relationships, and business development across several European financial centres.
Following the 2008 merger of NYSE and Euronext, Attia was appointed Senior Vice President with responsibility for the design and implementation of the Universal Trading Platform, a major global integration initiative. From 2010 to 2013, he was based in New York as Chief of Staff to the President and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NYSE Euronext, supporting strategic alignment and organisational integration across transatlantic markets.
Leading Euronext’s transformation as CEO of Euronext Paris
In 2014, Attia was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Euronext Paris, a role he held concurrently with membership of the Euronext Managing Board until 2021. During this period, two achievements stand out: overseeing the development of Euronext’s proprietary trading platform, Optiq, and the expansion of Euronext Clearing into a multi-asset international clearing house.
Also in 2014, as Senior Vice President at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), he was instrumental in the carve-out of Euronext from ICE and its successful initial public offering. His most recent position was Euronext Global Head of Derivatives and Post Trade, overseeing strategy, product development, and the group’s clearing and derivatives capabilities across pan-European markets.
Attia’s governance contributions span board-level roles at key market infrastructure organisations. He served for eight years as a Board Director of LCH SA, held a position on the Board of Euroclear Holding, and previously served as Vice President of the Federation of European Securities Exchanges.
Key career milestones:
- 1997: Joins Société des Bourses Françaises
- 2008: Senior Vice President, NYSE Euronext — Universal Trading Platform
- 2010–2013: Chief of Staff to President and Deputy CEO, NYSE Euronext (New York)
- 2014: Chairman and CEO, Euronext Paris; Senior Vice President, ICE (led Euronext IPO carve-out)
- 2014–2021: Member, Euronext Managing Board
- Most recently: Global Head of Derivatives and Post Trade, Euronext Group
What the appointment means for ASX’s ongoing transformation
Why Attia’s background fits ASX’s current priorities
Attia’s experience spans the full value chain of exchange operations, from primary markets and listing franchises through to post-trade services including clearing, custody and settlement. This breadth maps directly to the integrated nature of ASX’s own operations and the post-trade modernisation priorities the exchange has been navigating. His track record in technology-enabled transformation, as referenced by Chair David Clarke, is a credential the Board has explicitly cited as central to the appointment.
Anthony Attia, incoming Managing Director and CEO
“I am delighted to join ASX at a pivotal moment in its transformation. There is so much potential, and I’m excited to meet everyone at ASX and to engage directly with key stakeholders in Australia’s markets ecosystem. I look forward to working with the ASX Boards and the executive leadership team to further strengthen ASX’s role as a steward of critical market infrastructure and to position us as a leading capital markets hub in the Asia Pacific region.”
What does an ASX CEO actually oversee?
ASX operates as an integrated exchange, meaning it manages the full lifecycle of securities markets. This includes primary markets (where companies list and raise capital), secondary markets (where investors buy and sell shares), and post-trade services (clearing, settlement, and custody of transactions). For investors in ASX-listed companies, leadership stability at ASX matters because the exchange underpins the entire market ecosystem. Strategic direction at critical market infrastructure affects every participant, from institutional fund managers to retail investors.
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Remuneration structure and employment terms
ASX has disclosed the full material terms of Attia’s appointment. The remuneration package reflects the seniority and complexity of the role, with a total fixed and variable structure across several components.
| Component | Amount | Structure | Deferral / Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration | $2,000,000 p.a. | Cash (inclusive of superannuation) | N/A | Subject to annual review |
| Short-term variable reward | $1,700,000 at target; capped at 150% of target | 50% cash / 25% equity deferred 1 year / 25% equity deferred 2 years | Deferred equity in restricted ASX ordinary shares; dividends payable during restriction period | Pro-rated for FY27; subject to financial and non-financial performance targets set by the Board |
| Long-term variable reward | Face value $2,000,000 | Performance rights | Vesting subject to performance conditions; no dividends on performance rights | Subject to shareholder approval at ASX’s 2026 AGM |
| Replacement Award | Up to $6,300,000 | Restricted shares under ASX’s Deferred Equity Plan | Three tranches (see below) | Share number based on 5-day VWAP immediately preceding commencement date |
Replacement award vesting schedule
The Replacement Award is structured as compensation for incentives Attia will forgo by ceasing his current employment, and is not part of his standard ongoing remuneration. The number of restricted shares to be granted will be determined using the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of ASX shares across the five trading days immediately preceding his commencement date. The three tranches vest as follows:
- Tranche 1 — $2,000,000: Vests on the first trading day after ASX releases its 1H27 financial results
- Tranche 2 — $3,580,000: Vests on the first trading day after ASX releases its FY27 financial results
- Tranche 3 — $720,000: Vests on the first trading day after ASX releases its FY28 financial results
Vesting under each tranche is conditional on Attia not having resigned or been summarily dismissed prior to the relevant vesting date. Under ASX’s Remuneration Adjustments Policy, the Board retains discretion to apply malus to any deferred remuneration that has not yet vested or been realised without restriction.
On termination, minimum notice periods are 12 months if ASX-initiated (or immediately without notice in the case of serious misconduct) and 6 months if initiated by Attia. Post-employment restrictions include a 6-month non-compete and a 12-month non-solicitation covenant covering directors, officers, employees, contractors, customers, and suppliers of the ASX Group.
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