BGC Partners Appoints Peter O'Toole As Managing Director, New Business Development, London And Specified European Initiatives

LONDON, Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP) ("BGC Partners" or "BGC"), a leading global brokerage company servicing the wholesale financial markets, today announced the appointment of Peter O'Toole as Managing Director, New Business Development, London and specified European initiatives. In this role, Mr. O'Toole will assume responsibility for a number of existing business groups and focus on building BGC's financial services business as it expands into new product areas, hires talented professionals and explores further opportunities for organic growth and acquisition.  He will join BGC's London executive management committee and report to Mark Webster, Executive Managing Director and General Manager.   

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Mr. O'Toole joins BGC with more than 26 years' experience in the financial services industry.  Prior to BGC he was a partner of Teragon Capital Ltd.  From 1990 until 2010 he worked at ICAP.  During this time he founded its securities business, launched Exotix Ltd, its frontier emerging markets business, and played a senior role in ICAP's development.  In addition, he was a board member of ICAP Private Group Ltd.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Webster said: "Peter joins BGC as we seek to expand our business by exploring opportunities for growth, hiring highly talented professionals and broadening the range of products we offer our valued customers. His entrepreneurial track record, industry knowledge and extensive managerial experience make him a natural choice and I am confident he will be a strong asset and valuable addition to our management team." 

Mr. O'Toole said: "I am extremely pleased to join BGC which has a fantastic reputation, strong business performance and entrepreneurial, highly respected management team.  I look forward to playing a key role in building BGC's financial services business and capitalizing on growth opportunities alongside Mark and his team."

About BGC Partners:

BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets, has over 7,000 employees in New York, London and dozens of cities around the world, and conducts over $200 trillion in financial transactions for customers annually. BGC offers customers over 220 products, including commercial real estate, fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products.

BGC's technology helps customers determine the value of a transaction and execute transactions at the best possible price. BGC's customers include many of the world's largest banks, hedge funds, governments and investment firms. Trades are executed through BGC's brokers, or through its hybrid and fully electronic brokerage services.

BGC, named after fixed income trading innovator B. Gerald Cantor, also offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics through its eSpeed, BGC Trader, and BGC Market Data brands, and provides clearing, processing, and other support services. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements by BGC Partners

Statements in this press release regarding BGC Partners' business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in our public filings, including our most recent Form 10-K and any updates to such risk factors contained in subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filings.

SOURCE BGC Partners, Inc.