Biography of Xavier Rolet, CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group)

Born on November 12, 1959 in Aix-les-Bains (France), Xavier Rolet is the CEO of the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world. Xavier Rolet took control of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) in May 2009. As CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group, Xavier Rolet earned more than 5 million per year.

Xavier Rolet comes from a military family. With his military parents, the CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group spent his childhood in Algeria and France. Prior to his experience in the London Stock Exchange Group, Xavier Rolet studied at the Columbia Business School and the Institute of Advanced National Defense Studies (Paris). Xavier Rolet had been award the Rotary Foundation Scholarship for International Understanding for his studies.

The actual CEO of the London Stock Exchange started his career working for Robert E. Rubin on the International Arbitrage desk at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York in January 1984. In 1990, he was promoted to co-head of European Equity Sales and Trading at Goldman Sachs International Limited and moved to London. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in 1994 as global head of European Equities before moving to Dresdner Kleinwort Benson as global head of Risk and Trading, and deputy head of Global Equities (1997-2000). From 2000 to 2008, Xavier Rolet worked at Lehman Brother. In March 2009, Xavier Rolet joined the Board of the London Stock Exchange and 2 months later, he became CEO. Xavier Rolet is a former member of the Board of Euronext Paris and Nasdaq Europe.

Founded in 1801, the London Stock Exchange is based in London City, England. In 2005, the London Stock Exchange rejected a takeover offer from Macquarie Bank. The takeover offer had been rejected by shareholders. The NASDAQ also places a takeover offer of £2.4 billion. This offer also got rejected.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) results of the merger in 2007 of the Borsa Italiana and London Stock Exchange. On date of December 2010, the London Stock Exchange was managing a market capitalization of US$3.6 trillion.

It does appear clearly that the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) is looking to extend its activities outside London. In fact, the London Stock Exchange Group wants to become the financial center of international stock trading. It’s begun with the acquisition of the Borsa Italiana, and currently, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE Group) has its eyes on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Toronto Venture Exchange. The London Stock Exchange Group approached the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Toronto Venture Exchange for a merger of equals. Under the management of the London Stock Exchange Group, the merger of equals would be build on a form a transatlantic entity for trading stocks, derivatives and other financial assets.

On May 25, 2011, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice had approved a TMX Group Inc. (X) shareholder meeting and vote on the proposed tie-up with the London Stock Exchange. The merger of equals is under process, but may be rejected by shareholders. If so, the merger of equals deal could be rejected.