Mike Gilbert, Founder and Director, is a New Zealand national with over 30 years of experience across derivatives trading and broking, high-frequency trading (HFT), and clearing, gained in major financial centres including London, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

Mike began his career in London, where he led the equity derivatives broking team at OMX London for three years. He then spent seven years trading Scandinavian equity derivatives at a London-based market-making firm.

In 2004, he joined Newedge Bank (a subsidiary of Société Générale) and held the position of Managing Director, responsible for the HFT and Clearing divisions across Asia Pacific. Based in both Australia and Hong Kong, Mike played a key role in expanding the bank’s regional footprint, growing both revenue and the client base significantly over his eight-year tenure.

In 2012, Mike co-founded Ark International Group (AIG), where he oversees business development, compliance, and daily operations.

Known for his ability to build robust frameworks around new products, Mike brings a wealth of operational and strategic expertise to the DAFM team, complementing the strengths of his fellow directors.