In her new role, Downs will work closely with Patrice Blanc, president of Jefferies Futures Division, who was previously CEO of Newedge Group and joined the firm in October 2010 to start the futures business at Jefferies.
Together, they will be responsible to build-out and manage the development of a futures and options trading and clearing business on the listed financial and commodity markets.
Downs will be based in Jefferies’ Chicago office.
Downs brings to Jefferies more than 30 years of industry experience, and joins from ICAP North America, where she was head of Futures, Commodities and SEF Compliance.
Previously, she was head of Compliance for the Americas at Newedge USA, and prior to that, was head of Futures Compliance at Fimat USA.
Downs also spent five years at the National Futures Association and 20 years at the Chicago Board of Trade in various roles.
