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Australian share market operator ASX Limited (ASX: ASX) has appointed European exchange veteran Anthony Attia as its new managing director and chief executive, handing the nearly 30-year industry operator a $2 million base salary and up to $6.3 million in restricted shares to lure him from his role atop Euronext's largest division.
Attia will take the reins on 1 September 2026, subject to obtaining relevant authorisations to work in Australia, filling a vacancy created by the departure of Helen Lofthouse, who steps down on 29 May after four years in the top job.
The appointment follows a global search supported by executive recruitment firm Korn Ferry, triggered by ASX's February announcement that Lofthouse would leave by mutual agreement with the board.
Darren Yip, group executive of markets and listings, will serve as interim CEO during the three-month gap between Lofthouse's exit and Attia's start date.
Attia joins from Euronext, where he has served as president and head of primary markets and post-trade since 2019, overseeing one of the group's largest divisions.
He previously held the role of CEO of Euronext Paris from 2015 and spent more than a decade at NYSE Euronext in senior leadership positions across Europe and the United States.
“Following a comprehensive global search process, the board is delighted to appoint someone of Anthony’s calibre," says ASX chair David Clarke.
"He brings deep exchange experience coupled with a proven track record of technology-enabled transformation and a clear understanding of the responsibilities that come with leading critical market infrastructure.
"I am confident he will build on the momentum at ASX and support the next stage of our transformation.”
Attia's remuneration package reflects the scale of the role and the incentives he is forgoing at Euronext.
His fixed pay of $2 million per annum is inclusive of superannuation, complemented by a short-term variable reward of $1.7 million at target, capped at 150 per cent.
A long-term variable reward with a face value of $2 million is subject to shareholder approval at the 2026 annual general meeting.
Attia says he is joining ASX at "a pivotal moment" for the organisation.
"There is so much potential, and I’m excited to meet everyone at ASX and to engage directly with key stakeholders in Australia’s markets ecosystem," he says.
"I look forward to working with the ASX boards and the executive leadership team to further strengthen ASX’s role as a steward of critical market infrastructure and to position us as a leading capital markets hub in the Asia Pacific region.”
The leadership change comes as ASX navigates one of the most significant technology transformations in its history.
Release 1 of the long-running CHESS replacement project, covering clearing functionality, went live on 20 April this year - a milestone that was delivered under Lofthouse's watch and had been flagged as a target in the February transition announcement.
Lofthouse, who was appointed CEO in 2022 after an 11-year career at ASX spanning multiple senior roles, said at the time of her departure announcement that the role had been "rewarding but demanding" and expressed pride in the organisation's achievements during her tenure.
Clarke acknowledged Lofthouse's contribution, noting the board had agreed with her that the time was right for a leadership transition following the successful delivery of the CHESS clearing milestone.
Attia's appointment now turns attention to the next phases of the CHESS replacement program and ASX's broader ambition to deepen its position as a regional market infrastructure leader - priorities that will define his early tenure when he takes the helm on 1 September.
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