Richard Whelan is a seasoned capital markets executive with close to three decades of experience spanning global tier-one institutions, regulated financial technology ventures, and multi-asset electronic trading. He holds a BA in Economics (with Distinction) from University College Dublin and completed a scholarship with distinction at the UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School, laying the academic foundation for a career that would take him to the highest levels of global treasury and OTC operations.

Richard commenced his institutional career at Deutsche Bank, subsequently holding senior roles at JPMorgan, UBS, and Northern Trust over a period of more than fifteen years. Across these appointments he directed all aspects of Treasury and OTC Operations, culminating in his appointment as SVP and Global Head of Treasury Operations — a role that afforded him end-to-end visibility across both deliverable and non-deliverable OTC asset classes, eTrading infrastructure, and global liquidity management.

Drawing on this institutional depth, Richard co-founded FIXI PLC alongside Marcus Cumberland in 2006. As an FCA-regulated market maker, FIXI PLC was among the first firms globally to deliver what is now recognised as a Prime-of-Prime solution — serving brokers, buy-side institutions, European banks, Hong Kong bullion dealers, and ultra-high-net-worth participants across FX and metals markets. Following FIXI PLC’s successful establishment, Richard has since founded and led a further five FCA and ASIC-regulated entities encompassing derivatives broking, and digital banking, and asset management as Chief Executive Officer.

In 2021, Richard acquired the Alpha Trade brand in partnership with two trusted principals, assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer in February 2022. Under his leadership, Alpha Trade has rapidly built a mature diverse multi-asset product offering competing successfully with its institutional competitors, while pursuing a differentiated strategy as a boutique liquidity provider delivering bespoke pricing solutions to derivatives brokers, hedge funds, and family offices.