Kurt Looyens has today been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX). Kurt Looyens was the Head of Business Development for the GBX and today takes over from Nick Cowan, who maintains his position as CEO of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange.
Formerly a highly experienced executive in the banking and traditional financial spheres, Mr. Looyens had been a Country Executive for ABN AMRO Bank Spain and Chief Strategist & Global Head of Business Development within the International Diamond and Jewellery Group of ABN AMRO.
According to the GBX’s announcement, Mr. Looyens said:
“I am excited to take the reigns of the GBX as we embark on an exciting new phase of development. This is a very interesting period for the wider GSX Group, following last week’s announcement that the GSX Global Market (GSX GM) will now offer the listing of digital debt and digital fund securities on its multilateral trading facility (MTF). My experience building up regional businesses with ABN AMRO Bank, coupled with my in-depth knowledge of financial solutions for a global audience has prepared me to drive the GBX forward as a world-leading digital asset exchange.”
Making comment on the new appointment, outgoing CEO, Nick Cowan, stated:
“We are pleased to have Kurt transition into the position of CEO of the GBX, following a very successful spell as Head of Business Development. His vast experience in finance, business development, and regulatory matters will provide the GBX with essential leadership to cement its position as a leading digital asset exchange. Kurt shares the overarching vision for the close interaction between the GSX and the GBX, with both entities working in tandem to capture the spirit of collaboration that has fuelled Gibraltar’s pursuit of blockchain innovation.”
The GBX is a fully regulated and insured digital asset exchange and token sale platform. It has listed a wide range of new tokens since receiving its full Distributed Ledger Technology licence from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission in November 2018. The GBX, under Mr. Looyens’ experienced direction, will continue to progress and develop, aiming to enhance its institutional-grade best practices as part of a wider, global, fintech ecosystem within the GSX group.
The GBX’s announcement concluded with a final statement from Kurt Looyens:
“GBX and GSX have played a prominent role in Gibraltar’s emergence as a thriving blockchain hub. Part of this success has stemmed from building a strong sense of trust within our community, recognising the needs and expectations of traders and putting them first. Broadening the reach of blockchain technology and digital assets to as many users as possible has always been at the heart of our efforts and I look forward to leading the next chapter of success for the GBX.”
