HKEX Names Veteran Risk Executive Graeme Farrell As New Group CRO

Hong Kong platforms and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has appointed Graeme Farrell as its next Group Chief Risk Officer, marking a significant leadership transition as the platform operator reinforces its risk capabilities for the years ahead. Farrell will join the organisation on 12 January 2026 and will succeed Richard Wise, who is stepping down later than five years to focus on family commitments. The appointment comes at a moment when global market operators face growing expectations around transparency, resilience, and data-driven oversight of market infrastructure.

In his new role, Farrell will overview HKEX’s broad portfolio of risk management functions, including Group Financial Risk Management, Group Quantitative Risk Management, Group Technology Risk Management and Group Enterprise Risk Management. These responsibilities will place him at the centre of HKEX’s ongoing efforts to strengthen operational frameworks, and support the platform’s strategic expansion. He will report directly to HKEX CEO Bonnie Y Chan and join the Management Committee, reflecting the critical nature of the position within the organisation’s governance architecture.

Chan expressed strong confidence in the appointment, stating: “I am delighted to welcome Graeme to the HKEX family. His deep global experience across a wide range of risk management disciplines will be immensely valuable as we further enhance our risk-related functions and continue to bolster the vibrancy and liquidity of our markets.” Her remarks highlight HKEX’s commitment to aligning leadership expertise with the increasingly complex dynamics shaping regional and international capital markets.

How Farrell’s Global Background Aligns With HKEX’s Risk Priorities

Farrell’s appointment aligns strategically with HKEX’s objective of strengthening risk governance while expanding its global relevance. With more than 25 years of experience across major financial centres including London, Hong Kong and New York, his background spans brokerage, asset management, and banking. Most recently, Farrell served as Group Chief Risk Officer at Interactive Brokers, where he led risk identification, assessment, monitoring, and reporting across the firm’s expanding international operations. His experience positions him well to support HKEX’s continued integration with global capital flows.

Prior to Interactive Brokers, Farrell held the role of Head of Operational Risk & Resiliency at AQR Capital, giving him exposure to risk dynamics in quantitative asset . Earlier in his career, he held senior risk oversight roles at JPMorgan Chase, serving as Global Head of . At Nomura, he was previously based in Hong Kong as Chief Operating Officer for Asia ex-Japan Equities Trading, gaining firsthand experience in regional regulatory expectations and market behaviours.

HKEX CEO Bonnie Y Chan underscored the importance of risk leadership to the platform’s mandate, saying: “As the Group viewks to build on its successes and capture more opportunities, we are mindful of our responsibility for acting in the interest of the investing public, maintaining stakeholder trust and supporting the integrity of the financial system. Graeme will be instrumental in driving our risk-aware culture and fostering its continued adoption at all levels, ensuring our ongoing resilience and integrity.” This perspective reflects a broader industry trend: platforms are no longer merely trading venues, but systemically critical institutions where governance and risk supervision directly impact market stability.

What This Transition Means For HKEX’s Governance And Future Direction

Alongside welcoming Farrell, HKEX expressed appreciation for outgoing CRO Richard Wise, whose contribution included implementing several key market infrastructure enhancements. Chan noted that Wise “led the implementation of several market infrastructure enhancements that support the robustness of the Group’s risk framework — including the default fund recapitalisation across our three clearing houses.” Such upgrades reflect the increasing pressure on to maintain resilient clearing systems amid higher market volatility, cross-asset leverage, and geopolitical shifts.

Farrell’s arrival may signal an accelerated focus on quantitative risk tools, operational resiliency, and technology-driven oversight — areas under heightened scrutiny globally, especially as platforms , new derivatives products, and more algorithmic market participation. His experience at Interactive Brokers and AQR suggests an orientation toward data-rich, model-driven frameworks that can enhance HKEX’s ability to anticipate and mitigate emerging risks across interconnected markets.

With his relocation from London to Hong Kong, Farrell brings both international perspective and regional familiarity, strengthening HKEX’s position as a bridge between global investors and Asian capital markets. As HKEX prepares for further product innovation, cross-border initiatives and technology modernization, the alignment of risk leadership with strategic ambition will likely play a central role in sustaining liquidity, market confidence, and long-term competitiveness.