OANDA Europe Names New CEO as FTMO Founders Step into Co-Leadership

OANDA Europe Limited has promoted Lucian Lauerman to the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The appointment is part of a broader leadership restructuring tied to the ongoing acquisition process involving FTMO, the proprietary trading firm.

As part of the changes, FTMO founders Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček have assumed co-chief executive roles at OANDA. They take over from Gavin Bambury, who stepped down after discussions with the new leadership team. The transition aligns with OANDA's strategy to separate its core brokerage operations from its proprietary trading activities.

Background and Career

Lauerman brings extensive experience within OANDA, having served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for over two years prior to his promotion. Before that, he spent roughly two and a half years as Head of Digital Assets, where he focused on cryptocurrency and digital asset initiatives. His earlier roles at the company included Head of Data Services, also based in London.

Prior to joining OANDA, Lauerman spent around seven years at Saxo Bank. There, he held senior positions such as Head of API Business and later Global Head of Electronic Distribution, a role he occupied for nearly three years. Earlier in his career, he spent about three years at Lloyds Banking Group, where he worked in eProduct management and served as eProduct director.

Prop Trader Transfer and India Expansion

In a related development, OANDA Prop Trader, the firm's proprietary trading unit, is being migrated to the FTMO group. The transition began in March 2025. Clients moving to FTMO's platform will gain access to its trading infrastructure, while those who choose not to migrate will receive refunds where applicable, along with potential additional incentives.

Separately, FTMO has expanded into India, a market where interest in prop trading has surged since 2023. Several prop trading firms, including FundingPips, The5ers, FundedNext, and Maven, report that India now accounts for a significant share of web traffic, particularly among younger traders.