Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliates, eSpeed, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPD) and BGC Partners, have announced that Paul M. Pion, Senior Managing Director, has been appointed to the new role of Chief Ethics Officer, reaffirming the firms’ strong commitment to business ethics and integrity of the highest order. Mr. Pion will report directly to Howard W. Lutnick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of eSpeed, Inc., and to Lee Amaitis, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive of BGC Partners.
In making the announcement, Mr. Lutnick said, “Our unwavering commitment to excellence in client service is matched by the fundamental value we place on best-in-class ethics and compliance. Our success depends in great measure on the confidence that our clients, regulators, and the global capital markets have in our reputation for integrity and accountability. I’ve worked closely with Paul for several years, and am extremely confident that his personal and professional values make him a superb choice for this important new role.”
Mr. Pion said, “This role builds upon our culture of integrity, and on the strong fundamentals that are in place, including our code of conduct and business ethics, whistleblower hotline, and other procedures and processes, as we seek to maintain a reputation in the global financial markets for unquestionable integrity and a highly ethical work environment.”
Mr. Pion joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 2002, after serving for approximately fourteen years with Deloitte & Touche, most recently as an Audit and Assurance partner focusing on financial services clients. He previously was responsible for directing eSpeed’s compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding internal processes and controls, and in addition to his new role, will continue to serve as head of global internal audit for eSpeed. Mr. Pion has been active in professional organizations, and received a B.S. in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany.
