BlackRock has announced just at year's end Paul Battams' appointment as Global Head of Equity Trading, effective immediately.

Battams joined the funds giant as a derivatives desk trader 17 years ago, as part of the firm's acquisition of Barclays Global Investors; since then he has overseen both EMEA and International trading before stepping into the new worldwide role.

Battams remains based in London, where he has also taken an active role in supporting the firm's position on trading and microstructure matters, including public advocacy for shortening the LSE's trading hours.