Virtu Financial CEO Douglas Cifu Retires, CTO Aaron Simons Steps Up
Virtu Financial, a global leader in multi-asset liquidity and execution services, announced the retirement of CEO Douglas Cifu. Cifu, a co-founder, guided the firm through pivotal milestones including its 2015 IPO and transformative acquisitions of KCG and ITG. His tenure cemented Virtu's position in market making and execution.
Aaron Simons, formerly Chief Technology Officer, succeeds Cifu effective immediately. Simons joined Virtu in 2008 after postdoctoral work in theoretical physics, later overseeing critical technology integrations during the KCG and ITG mergers. Chairman Emeritus Vincent Viola praised Cifu as "an indispensable partner" who shaped the firm's foundation.