Binance Scores Former JPMorgan Exec to Lead Latin Expansion

There seems to be nothing stopping Binance from its quest for world domination. Changpeng Zhao’s powerhouse exchange is now branching into additional markets–with former JPMorgan exec and legal counsel at the helm.

Binance to Expand through Europe and Latin America

In an announcement on the company blog, Binance revealed today that it had made a new hire, taking on Josh Goodbody. He will be joining the leading cryptocurrency exchange as Director of European and Latin American Growth and Institutional Business. 

Goodbody will be in charge of regional growth across these areas and, specifically, the development of Binance institutional markets. As a former JPMorgan exec and State Street legal counsel, Goodbody brings a “wealth of experience” in traditional financial markets to the table.

He’s also on top of legal and regulatory matters, having provided counsel to JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, and State Street. Binance’s new hire also has a track record for business development and strategic market development within financial markets, fintech, and the digital assets industries. According to the statement:

Goodbody will focus on growing innovative products tailored to retail and institutional users alike for Binance’s European and Latin American markets.

Binance to Up Its Push for Institutional Investors

Already the most widely recognized cryptocurrency exchange worldwide for retail investors, Binance is now after a greater share of the institutional investor pie as well, starting with Europe and Latin American regions. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said:

We are excited to welcome Josh to the Binance family and look forward to his integral role in strengthening our presence and growth in the European and Latin American markets.

Zhao went on to say that Goodbody’s background in traditional finance and building products that combine financial utility with blockchain technology would be the ace up the former JPMorgan executive’s sleeve.

Goodbody Previously Worked at Huobi

This isn’t Goodbody’s first foray into cryptocurrency by any means. In fact, the former JPMorgan exec held a similar role at Huobi (Head of Europe and the Americas) before being lured by Binance.

Here he purportedly helped Huobi to onboard “more than a thousand institutions,” while introducing its products to a global audience in a compliant and regulated way within each jurisdiction. Co-founder of Binance Yi He said:

Europe and Latin America are key growth markets for Binance and the larger blockchain and cryptocurrency industry… Josh will further establish our local footprint in these markets, supporting business and institutional growth globally.

For his part, Goodbody stated that he was “humbled” to be joining such a cutting edge team that “shares the same guiding philosophy that democratizing money can make a significant impact in people’s lives.”

What do you make of Binance’s latest hiring? Add your thoughts below!

Images via Shutterstock, Twitter @Binance