Liquidnet hired Andrew Arnold and Jason Lichten to lead the buildout of its options business.
Liquidnet has entered the US equity options market, expanding its multi-asset execution and hiring two senior traders to lead the buildout. The company appointed Andrew Arnold and Jason Lichten to develop high-touch and low-touch options execution services for institutional clients.
The move marks an expansion for the agency broker, which has focused heavily on equities and fixed income in recent years. The launch positions Liquidnet to compete in one of the fastest-growing segments of listed derivatives.
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Arnold joins as Senior Execution Trader for high-touch US equity options. He previously held senior roles at Credit Suisse, Cantor Fitzgerald, Baycrest, Tullett Prebon, and GFI. He will be responsible for servicing institutional clients requiring complex, negotiated options execution.
“Expanding into US Equity Options is a logical next step in our multi-asset strategy. The market has seen sustained growth over the past several years, and we see clear opportunities to deliver value to our Members by extending our execution expertise into this space,” commented Chris Blackburn, the Global Head of Multi-Asset at Liquidnet.
Lichten will develop Liquidnet’s electronic options capabilities as Senior Execution Trader for low-touch options. He brings more than two decades of experience from Wolverine Execution Services, RBC Capital Markets, BT Radianz, and Merrill Lynch.
“The continued electronification of the US options market presents real opportunities for innovation,” Lichten said. “Liquidnet’s technology-driven model provides a strong foundation for growth.”
Liquidnet Global Head of Multi-Asset Chris Blackburn said the expansion reflects client demand for broader execution services. “Expanding into US Equity Options is a logical next step in our multi-asset strategy,” he said. “The market has seen sustained growth, and we see clear opportunities to deliver value by extending our execution expertise into this space.”
The business will complement Liquidnet’s existing equities and derivatives operations, which serve more than 1,000 institutional investors across 57 markets. The firm is part of TP ICAP Group, which owns several execution and data businesses.
The US equity options market has seen record volumes in recent years, driven by institutional hedging strategies and rising volatility. Liquidnet plans to scale its options capabilities through 2025 and integrate them into its global trading platform. The firm said the launch reinforces its agency execution model and supports growing demand for multi-asset trading strategies.
