As head of CME Europe, Blundell will spearhead the expansion of CME's London operation to meet the needs of its European customer base. Under his direction, CME Europe will implement the exchange's business plan in Europe, working to expand access and distribution of GLOBEX, CME's electronic trading platform, increase awareness and utilization of CME markets while ensuring the highest level of customer service. He reports to Arman Falsafi, Managing Director, Global Electronic Trading and Data, Products and Services Division.
"Mark brings with him an extensive background in the derivatives and investment banking fields," said CME President and CEO Jim McNulty. "His leadership skills, experience and knowledge of the derivatives markets will be a great asset to CME as we expand our presence in London and pursue the growth of our business in Europe."
"I look forward to assisting CME in executing its business strategy in Europe," said Blundell. "As a global market, CME is working to build the infrastructure and customer relationships that meet the needs of risk managers and investors in Europe and around the world."
Before joining CME, Blundell was Chairman and founding partner of Swaps.com Ltd., a business-to-business (B2B) over-the-counter derivative Internet auction space. Formerly Director of Institutional Marketing at Sabre Fund Management Group in London, Blundell also held the positions of Managing Director at Rabobank from 1995 to 1999, where he was Treasurer of its London branch and then was Global Head of the Financial Institutions and Governments group, and Sakura Global Capital in London from 1990 to 1995. In 1977, he joined Citibank's consulting group on International Finance and Risk Management in New York, and went on to become Treasurer of France and Monaco for Citicorp and Derivatives Head for Europe. He is a former Vice Chairman of Ithe International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), and is a dual US/UK national who has worked in the European markets for 19 years.
Blundell earned a bachelor's degree in political economy and Asian studies from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and a master's degree in international affairs from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Medford, Massachusetts.
In 1980, CME was the first U.S. futures exchange to establish an overseas office in London.Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (www.cme.com) is the largest futures exchange in the United States and the second largest exchange in the world for the trading of futures and options on futures. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on its trading floors and GLOBEX around-the-clock electronic trading platform. CME offers futures contracts and options on futures primarily in four product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moves about $1.5 billion per day in settlement payments and manages $28.2 billion in collateral deposits. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.
