January 12th, 2009 - Jim Leman, FIX Protocol evangelist and founder, receives Waters Lifetime Achievement Award

Director of FIX Protocol Ltd. receives Waters Lifetime Achievement Award

Jim Leman: “It has always been my honor to work with all of the folks who made FIX one of the most lasting innovations in the application of technology to the electronic trading dimension of the financial industry."

Jim Leman has recently received  the Waters Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th annual American Financial Technology Awards.  Mr. Leman is currently a Principal and Managing Director at Westwater, a management & technology consulting firm.  Mr. Leman’s career in the financial services sector spans over 30 years and includes employment at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Salomon Brothers / Citigroup, SunGard and HSBC.  While at Salomon Brothers, Mr. Leman worked with colleagues and counterparts at Fidelity Investments to develop the first versions of the FIX Protocol as a bi-lateral framework for the electronic communication of equities trading nearly 15 years ago.  Recognising the significant potential of this innovation, and the cost savings and efficiencies it could present to the financial services sector, he worked tirelessly to champion the global adoption of the FIX Protocol by both competitors and clients, alongside fellow founders of the Protocol - Jacques Perold, Bob Lamoureux and Chris Morstatt.

Mr. Leman was also fundamental in creating the FIX Protocol Limited (FPL) organisation, and held the position of sell-side Co-Chair of the organisation’s Global and US Committees for a total of six years before becoming Co-Chair of its Business Practices Committee.  He was recently re-elected to serve another term as a Director of FIX Protocol Ltd.

Today the FIX Protocol is the de facto messaging standard for the electronic trading of equities within the pre-trade and trade space and its prominence is advancing at significant speed within the Derivatives, Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange markets.  The FPL organisation constantly strives for the ever-expanding adoption of the Protocol, and is very pleased with the growing interest shown by participants in emerging markets that are also keen to take advantage of the economic and operational benefits that the FIX Protocol presents.  This long-term success is in a large part due to the accomplishments of Jim Leman and his colleagues who have helped to develop the Protocol and have so effectively promoted its adoption.

Jim stated, “It has always been my honor to work with all of the folks who made FIX one of the most lasting innovations in the application of technology to the electronic trading dimension of the financial industry.  Let’s all keep moving its contribution forward.”

Scott Atwell of American Century Investments and Co-Chair of the FPL Global Steering Committee added, “I have been fortunate enough to have worked with Jim on FIX since 1996 and have always admired his passion and drive in making the FIX Protocol a success.  Jim coordinated the initial expansion of FIX into Europe, Japan, and Asia/Pacific.  On behalf of the FPL organisation, I would like to sincerely thank Jim for his contribution to the electronic trading industry.  Without his strong belief and commitment, the significant cost savings that the industry continues to benefit from through mass adoption of the FIX Protocol standard would not have been possible.”