R.J. O’Brien Appoints John Robbins to New Global Chief Compliance Officer Role

The US independent futures brokerage and clearing firm said Robbins will oversee the firm’s worldwide compliance initiatives, reflecting RJO’s continued international growth.

Based in New York, Robbins, who has over 25 years of compliance experience in financial services, will report to Melissa Zierk, Managing Director and General Counsel at RJO. 

He will lead a global compliance team, including regional officers from the US, EMEA, and the firm’s broker-dealer affiliate.

Zierk highlighted Robbins’ appointment as a strategic move to unify RJO’s compliance framework: “John is ideally suited to this role, with deep global compliance experience and a proven track record in coordinating disparate regulatory products and geographic activities into cohesive compliance programs at some of the largest, most diverse organizations in the industry.”

Robbins stated: “It’s a great opportunity where I can leverage the regulatory knowledge, compliance technology and process optimization tools developed over my career to help build a proactive, operationally resilient compliance program supporting the firm’s dynamic growth.”

Previously, Robbins has held leadership roles with firms such as Intercontinental Exchange, Deutsche Bank, and Apex Fintech Solutions, specialising in regulatory compliance, surveillance, and process optimisation. 

Furthermore, Robbins is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds multiple FINRA securities licences, as well as being an active member of the CFA Society of New York.