Kraken, the cryptocurrency exchange, is bolstering its leadership team to navigate the ever-evolving global regulatory landscape.
In a strategic move, the company has welcomed two highly experienced professionals to key executive roles.
Gilles BianRosa, with more than twenty years of entrepreneurial and product leadership expertise, has assumed the position of Chief Operating and Product Officer (COO/CPO).
His impressive career includes serving as the Chief Product Officer at the European Neobank N26, where he successfully executed the bank’s global product strategy, which notably included the launch of cryptocurrency trading in core markets.
Prior to his role at N26, BianRosa played pivotal roles at SoundCloud and Samsung Electronics. At Kraken, he will be responsible for overseeing strategy, global business operations, product development, and design.
His primary focus will be on driving innovation in the crypto space, and he will report directly to Kraken’s CEO, David Ripley, who expressed excitement about the appointment and BianRosa’s history of delivering innovative products.
BianRosa himself expressed enthusiasm for his new role, citing his passion for product strategy, innovation, and operational optimization.
Simultaneously, Marcus Hughes has been appointed as the Global Head of Regulatory Strategy. Hughes brings a wealth of legal, commercial, and regulatory expertise garnered from senior positions at Coinbase and Morgan Stanley.
He previously served as the Managing Director of Coinbase’s European business and General Counsel for its international operations.
Hughes’s main responsibility at Kraken is to drive the company’s regulatory strategy and expansion efforts on a global scale.
Marcus Hughes, proud of his selection, aims to represent Kraken in engagements with regulators worldwide, emphasizing the company’s mission of accelerating crypto adoption while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards.
With a background in both traditional finance and the crypto sphere, Hughes is well-equipped to lead a team of legal regulatory experts across Kraken’s operational markets. He reports to Chief Legal Officer Marco Santori.
Kraken’s CEO, David Ripley, highlights the importance of adapting to regulatory changes while advancing product innovation and global expansion.
He emphasizes the pivotal roles played by BianRosa and Hughes in guiding Kraken through a dynamic regulatory landscape, reaffirming the company’s commitment to making crypto accessible to users worldwide.
These strategic appointments demonstrate Kraken’s dedication to staying at the forefront of the cryptocurrency industry while adhering to regulatory compliance.