FxPro Financial Service, the Cyprus-headquartered international retail broker in foreign exchange and contracts for difference, has appointed Michael Derks as chief strategist and Simon Smith as chief economist.

These appointments will bring a perspective to FxPro and offer clients insight and analysis of the world’s markets, the firm said in a statement.

Derks joins FxPro from Arch Group, an investment management boutique, where he was the chief investment strategist. In his prior career he also worked as global head of fixed income and FX strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in London and held senior market strategist and economist roles at both Nomura International and at Deutsche Bank. He has experience across institutional, family office, high and ultra high net worth and retail investors.

Smith joins the firm from Thomson Reuters, where he was responsible for building a cross-market analysis capability for new product development. Earlier in his career Smith worked as chief economist and strategist at Weavering Capital, as head of fixed income at 4Cast and at MMS International as the managing analyst for European fixed income.

“These senior and high calibre appointments demonstrate FxPro’s intent to develop its research and investment capabilities. The fast moving nature of FX markets coupled with the 24/5 trading capabilities of the FxPro platform means it is essential that we equip our globally diverse trader base with the best information possible to make informed investment decisions,” said Panagiotis Xydas, the firm’s chief executive.