FNG Exclusive… FNG has learned that Australia based online broker Stake, which many bill as the Robinhood of Australia, has hired longtime Finalto executive Oren Danziger as its new Managing Director, EMEA & UK.

Unlike its US competitor Robinhood, which earlier this year nixed plans to expand internationally (specifically, to the UK), it appears as though Stake – which raised a $40 million financing round led by New York based tech investor Tiger Global back in May – does indeed have global ambitions, and will be looking to expand its footprint in both continental Europe and the UK via bases in both London and Cyprus, where Mr. Danziger is based.

Oren Danziger had been with the Finalto / TradeTech / Safecap financial brokerage arm of online gaming company Playtech (LON:PTEC) for nine years, most recently as Director and Responsible Manager for TradeTech Markets Australia, and as Group VP Finance. He had previously worked at Deloitte Australia. Oren was also previously a professional football player in Israel’s Premier League for Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Herzliya FC.

Stake was founded in 2016 by CEO Matt Leibowitz and COO Dan Silver. The Australia company Stakeshop Pty Ltd is formally an authorised representative of ASIC-licensed Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd. The group also set up UK subsidiary Hellostake Limited, which is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).