FNG Exclusive… FNG has learned that digital prime brokerage firm GCEX is continuing to grow out its newly established operation in Dubai, hiring Maria Victoria Alberghini in a senior sales role for the region.

Maria Victoria Alberghini joins GCEX from Ebury, where she spent two years in a senior Business development role in Dubai. London based Ebury is a global financial services company, and a subsidiary of Santander bank.

FNG reported back in July that London based GCEX was expanding into the MENA region with the opening of a new Dubai office. The company hired one of GCEX founder Lars Holst’s former CFH/Finalto colleagues, Mehtap Önder, as Dubai office head and Managing Director GCEX MENA. Mehtap Önder was Regional Director of CFH Turkey (now Finalto) from 2014-2019. GCEX’s launch in Dubai follows on from the firm being granted provisional regulatory approval by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in Dubai (VARA) in April 2022 to operate as a crypto exchange. The firm is now in the process of applying for a license, in accordance with VARA requirements.