Kraken appoints Gilles BianRosa as COO CPO

quick take

Leading cryptocurrency platform Kraken has strengthened its leadership with the appointment of Gilles BianRosa as COO/CPO and Marcus Hughes as head of global regulatory strategy. This move aims to solidify Kraken’s position in the cryptocurrency market by navigating evolving global regulations and expanding product innovation.

Kraken Strengthens Leadership Team Amid Regulatory Challenges

As a strategic move to strengthen our position in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency environment, Kraken, one of the world’s most established and secure cryptocurrency platforms, has announced two key appointments to its leadership team. Gilles BianRosa has been appointed Chief Operating and Product Officer, and Marcus Hughes has assumed the role of Head of Global Regulatory Strategy. These appointments signal Kraken’s commitment to doubling down on its core markets, driving product innovation and expanding its global presence.

David Ripley, CEO of Kraken, emphasized the importance of these appointments in the face of a dynamic regulatory environment.

“As we prepare for the next phase of growth in the cryptocurrency market, we need to be able to quickly adapt to rapidly changing market trends while navigating an increasingly complex and diverse regulatory environment,” said Ripley.

“We will innovate, launch new products, enter new markets and continually improve our products, while remaining compliant with applicable regulatory requirements in the many markets in which we operate.”

Gilles BianRosa brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial and product leadership experience to Kraken. In his most recent role as CPO at N26, a leading European neobank, he defined and implemented the global product strategy, including the launch of cryptocurrency trading in key markets. Prior to N26, Gilles served as CPO at SoundCloud and led the content and services division at Samsung Electronics. In his new role at Kraken, Gilles will lead the company’s strategy, global business operations, product development and design.

David Ripley expressed enthusiasm about Gilles’ appointment: “Gilles has a proven track record of rapidly delivering innovative products across our global organization. “Combined with his strategic insight, we will be able to continue executing our mission to make cryptocurrency accessible to the next billion people through Kraken’s leading products and services.”

Marcus Hughes, Kraken’s new global head of regulatory strategy, brings extensive legal, commercial and regulatory expertise to the team. His previous roles include Managing Director of Coinbase’s European operations and General Counsel for International Operations. With nearly a decade of experience in traditional finance at Morgan Stanley, Marcus is well suited to lead Kraken’s regulatory strategy and global expansion efforts.

David Ripley highlighted Marcus’ role in ensuring regulatory compliance and expanding Kraken’s footprint, saying, “No one is better equipped to help Kraken navigate the complexities of a fragmented and rapidly evolving regulatory environment than Marcus.” “There is none,” he said.

In his role, Marcus will collaborate with Kraken’s leadership, lead a team of legal and regulatory experts, and work closely with the Government Affairs team to ensure Kraken’s ongoing compliance and advocacy efforts.

Kraken was recently one of nine overseas cryptocurrency exchanges. Compliance has been achieved. Show cause notice from Indian regulator FIU IND on charges of illegal operation. Currently, Kraken cannot enter the Indian market.

These strategic appointments reflect Kraken’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry, adapting to regulatory changes, and continuing to provide innovative products and services to our growing global customer base. Gilles BianRosa and Marcus Hughes are likely to play a pivotal role in driving Kraken’s future growth and success in a rapidly evolving environment.

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