Digital Asset Expands To Europe; Hires JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs Veterans

Digital Asset Holdings, a blockchain-based startup company, on Friday announced the opening of its office in London that aims to support its clients and increase its presence in the UK and European markets. The company also announced the appointment of former Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan executives to bolster its financial and technology capabilities.

“London is a global center for finance and a leading hub for innovation. Opening an office in the UK is a natural extension of our commitment to wholesale financial markets across the globe,” said Blythe Masters, CEO of Digital Asset.

Justin Amos, a Managing Director at NICE Actimize, the largest financial crime, risk and compliance software platform, has been appointed to spearhead the company European office. Amos brings great experience in both finance and technology following a 14-year career at JP Morgan in New York, London and Tokyo. Following his stint at JP Morgan, Amos co-founded RedKite Financial Markets, the real-time institutional surveillance technology provider, before NICE Actimize acquired it in 2012.

“Digital Asset’s new London office will bring the company closer to its clients in the UK and internationally,” said Amos. “I am excited to help grow the Company’s global footprint and aid the widespread adoption of distributed ledger technology as it continues to gain traction.”

In addition, Edward Newman, a former executive in Goldman Sachs’ Technology Infrastructure Organization, has also been hired as Deputy Chief Security Officer and Senior Software Developer.  Prior to Goldman Sachs, Newman spent ten years at Merrill Lynch in London and New York, where he held a variety of senior positions including responsibilities relating to identity services and security architecture.

Newman commenced his new role on January 5, based in New York, while Amos will join Digital Asset as Head of Europe effective February 1.

“I am delighted to welcome Justin and Ed to our rapidly growing team, especially as technology risk management continues to be a top priority for the financial services industry”, Masters said in a statement.