PPL hires ex-London Stock Exchange boss as chief executive

Electronic trading platform Placing Platform Limited (PPL) has appointed John Mason as its new chief executive.

In his new role, which he will begin in April, Mason will drive PPL’s data and digital connectivity strategy.

He joins the firm from the London Stock Exchange Group, where he was most recently group head of platform.

Prior to joining LSEG, he ran the European Enterprise Solutions for Bloomberg and also led Thomson Reuters’ response to MiFiD II and other regulatory and market structure initiatives.

Mason said: “I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to facilitate the London market’s drive to modernise.

”The degree of transformation that PPL’s been able to achieve so far is impressive, but there’s more to do. I’m very much looking forward to joining the PPL team and working with market firms to drive PPL’s competitive and innovative agenda.”

Succession

Mason will succeed interim chief executive Joe Gordon, who joined PPL last year.

His tenure as top boss tenure will end following a handover period.

Steve Hearn, PPL’s chairman, offered his thanks to Gordon.

“It’s fair to say that under Joe’s leadership PPL has successfully transitioned to a business set for growth,” he said.

”Delivering a new technology architecture, strengthening collaboration with market bodies and defining a transformative strategy, means PPL can be the market enabler to unlock the commercial benefits of digitisation. His vision and his contribution have been invaluable.”

Hearn added that he was ”delighted” to have been able to attract Mason to lead PPL.

“During his career, he has acquired exceptional experience of data platform capabilities and operations,” he said.

”He’s uniquely placed to lead PPL’s digital transformation and to enable the London market to realise the power and value of the data it holds.”