Cian Fitzgerald

In this session, four buy-side heads of trading share unfiltered perspectives on where they’re placing their biggest strategic bets- and what they’re leaving behind. From broker list redesign and bilateral partnerships to technology stack modernisation, leaner team structures, and the evolving role of AI, this discussion will explore how desks are being reshaped to meet the demands of the next three years. Expect honest views on the future of execution, the shifting balance between quants and process-driven traders, and what it means to scale trading without scaling headcount. Whether it’s building more modular infrastructure, navigating changing order flow dynamics, or adapting to increasing product diversification- this session will surface the critical calls that are set to define the future of buy-side trading.

As ETF product development accelerates across Europe- spanning active, options-based, and custom basket strategies- trading desks are facing a new set of execution, infrastructure, and operational demands. The European model differs markedly from the US, requiring firms to rethink their trading systems, street relationships, and internal workflows to support a more complex, basket-driven flow environment. Speakers will explore how ETF innovation is impacting liquidity provision, RFQ and algo workflows, and the infrastructure changes needed to support scale and competitiveness in the European ETF market.