LME announces new senior leadership appointments and organisational design

On March 6, 2024, the London Metal Exchange (LME) announced a number of senior leadership appointments and organisational design changes. These are being made to ensure that the LME continues to advance as a world-leading metals marketplace – supporting its customers, building mutually beneficial partnerships with its stakeholders, enhancing its operational resilience, and underpinning the Group's future goals and ambitions. The LME appointments complement appointments recently announced by LME Clear and are effective on April 1 2024.

Matthew Chamberlain, LME CEO, said, "These changes and appointments are part of an ongoing programme of enhancements and organisational refinements at the LME that will ensure the business continues to be a global leader in the trading, pricing and clearing of metals in turn, powering some of the most exciting business opportunities and industries around the world."

The LME is pleased today to announce the appointment of Susan Small as General Counsel, overseeing the legal function across LME and LME Clear. Susan will join in June and will report to both the LME and LME Clear CEOs. She joins from J.P. Morgan's Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB), London where she is currently the Deputy General Counsel for the CIB in EMEA and the head of the EMEA Markets Practice Group. She holds a double bachelor's degree in law and finance from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and is qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and New South Wales, Australia.

The Group is also creating a new role—Group Chief Financial and Administrative Officer—which will report to both the LME and LME Clear CEOs. This individual will be responsible for Finance, HR, Communications, and Facilities across both entities, helping to bring the corporate functions closer to the business. The LME is in advanced discussions, and an announcement on this will be made in due course.

Kirstina Combe, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer for both LME and LME Clear, has also been appointed as LME's Chief Risk Officer. She will work closely with Matt Wade, Chief Risk Officer for LME Clear. 

Finally, the LME is introducing three focused business lines – Sustainability & Physical Markets, Market Data and Trading – which reflect the unique nature of its business and markets. Additionally, an enhanced Market Development function will be responsible for the LME's ongoing strategy and organisational effectiveness. Together with shared corporate functions which support both LME and LME Clear, these will position the business well for the opportunities ahead.

The business lines and market development activities will be led by four existing senior LME executives who have built strong expertise in their respective areas of the business:

• Georgina Hallett, who will serve as Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Physical Markets
• Robin Martin, who will lead an enhanced Market Development function
• Kate Smith, who will run the Market Data business line
• Jamie Turner, who will become permanent LME COO and head the Trading business line

Together, these four individuals will work to drive forward the development of the LME's markets, ensuring that the LME continues to be synonymous with resilience and innovation. All four individuals will report to the LME CEO.

Matthew Chamberlain concluded: "The changes being announced today will help enhance transparency, accountability, operational resilience and effectiveness. I am particularly proud of the immense expertise we have at the LME, and I am delighted to be making so many appointments from within the company, reflecting this. I am also very pleased to welcome new talent to the Group, and I look forward to working with the full team as we build a business together in the future.”

“These are significant, strategic, and timely changes, and I know that they will be pivotal as we take the LME into its next phase of growth.”