GCEX appoints Steve Thomas to lead Sales and Business Development across UK and EMEA

GCEX, a regulated digital prime broker, has added Steve Thomas to its UK and EMEA sales and business development team. Thomas brings more than 25 years in FX and digital assets and will work closely with recent hire Kevin Gillespie to drive growth in the region.

Strengthening sales leadership

Thomas has a long record in institutional sales and global business development. He most recently worked in FICC Sales and Distribution at Laser Digital. Before that, he led institutional sales for FX and digital assets at Menai Financial Group. His earlier roles include senior posts at CBOE Global Markets, where he served five years as Director of FX Sales for EMEA, and nearly twenty years at Hotspot FX. He started his career at Saxo Bank and rose to Co-Head of FX International Sales.

This hire follows the arrival of Kevin Gillespie, reuniting two executives who previously worked together at Hotspot FX, Menai Financial Group, and Laser Digital. Together, they will focus on new growth opportunities across the UK and EMEA and adapt to changing client needs.

Lars Holst, Founder and CEO of GCEX, said that he has known Thomas since their time at Saxo. He highlighted Thomas’s strong revenue track record, his reputation across the industry, and his integrity and insight. Holst added that with Thomas and Gillespie leading UK and EMEA sales and business development, GCEX is set to speed up growth and open new opportunities.

Positioning GCEX for growth

Thomas said he is eager to support GCEX’s next stage of expansion as institutional interest in digital assets increases. He praised GCEX’s progress under Holst, citing strong regulatory coverage, a broad FX and crypto product range, competitive pricing, and a clear focus on ongoing product development. With their combined networks, Thomas and Gillespie expect to bring fresh momentum as more institutions seek access to digital assets.

GCEX serves institutional and professional clients with deep liquidity in CFDs on FX and digital assets, as well as spot trading and conversion. The firm’s XplorDigital suite includes Crypto in a Box and Broker in a Box, offering technology-agnostic tools that simplify compliance, improve risk management, and support client fund protection.

GCEX operates under multiple regulators, including the UK FCA, the Danish FSA (as a VASP and currency exchange), and Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. This reach supports strong compliance and operational discipline at a time of growing demand for regulated digital prime brokerage.

Expanding institutional reach

These senior appointments reflect GCEX’s push to strengthen its position across Europe and beyond. By bringing in Thomas and Gillespie, the company adds deep market expertise and established relationships that can help extend its institutional client base during a period of rapid market change.

Backed by investors such as True Global Ventures, GCEX continues to scale global operations with a focus on transparency, security, and client-first innovation. The firm’s growth plan centers on advanced liquidity access, tailored trading solutions, and modern technology for institutions across both digital assets and traditional FX.

Takeaway

Steve Thomas’s arrival boosts GCEX’s sales and business development leadership in the UK and EMEA. Alongside Kevin Gillespie, he will accelerate growth and meet rising institutional demand for regulated access to FX and digital assets.