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Summary
With 2025 drawing to a close, global markets have delivered strong double-digit gains, with US indices reaching record highs amid easing inflation, shifting rate expectations, and growing debate around valuations, policy divergence, and geopolitical risk. Against this backdrop, securities lending has emerged as a standout performer, with sustained demand driving elevated revenues and positioning 2025 as one of the most profitable years since the global financial crisis. From AI-driven demand in Asian equities to heightened activity in ETFs, US equities, and fixed income, volatility and macro uncertainty have created both challenges and opportunities. At the same time, the industry’s continued push toward automation and electronic trading is reshaping market access and efficiency. We therefore invite you to join us for our upcoming webinar on Thursday January 22, 2026, at 10AM ET (3pm GMT) as we look to unpack Q4 and the defining trends of 2025, as well as look ahead to what 2026 may hold, featuring forward-looking perspectives and market insights from our special guest, Robert Zekraus of GLMX.
Speakers
Matt Chessum
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Director, Product Management & Development
Matt Chessum is an executive director within the Equity Analytic products team at S&P Global Market Intelligence and is responsible for the EMEA and US Product Specialist teams, market commentary, thought leadership and media relations. Previously, Matt was an Investment Director at aberdeen asset management where his main responsibilities included overseeing the securities lending activity and the management of GBP denominated Money Market mandates.
Matt is a former member of the Bank of England's securities lending committee and a former board member of the International Securities Lending Association (ISLA).
Robert Zekraus
GLMX
Head of Business Development for Global Securities Lending
Based in New York, Bob is responsible for leading Pirum’s geographic expansion and America’s strategy focusing on business development, relationship management, and innovation. Bob has over 20 years of experience in Capital Markets working at leading global financial institutions. Prior to joining Pirum, Bob was Managing Director and Global Head of Prime Services Client Capital Management & Funding at Scotiabank. This mandate focused on managing the asset and liability profile, client pricing and risk, and strategic deployment and oversight of scarce financial resources for secured funding products. In addition, Bob and his team worked on developing customer-focused financing solutions that align with the risk appetite, liquidity, capital, and balance sheet strategies for the firm.
Bob served on the Board of Directors for Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and was a member of the Prime Services Executive Management team, New Business Governance Committee and other leadership forums, including being a mentor in the bank’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and senior advisor/super champion to the U.S. Green Employee Resources Group which promotes environmental, sustainability and climate awareness. Bob formerly served on BNY Mellon’s Government Securities Services Corp. Client Advisory Board and is widely recognized across the industry as a frequent speaker at major industry conferences, events and symposiums.
Bob has also worked as a strategic advisor at Equilend where he helped with the development and initial launch of a market viable product for Next Generation Trading (NGT) platform.
Before Equilend, Bob was at Barclays where he was a member of the Global Equity Finance Management team. He held various senior leadership roles in prime brokerage, equity finance trading, collateral management and funding, and financing sales. He was part of the original team that established the Collateral Finance Group at the firm in 1999.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Management from Cortland College.
Questions?
Please contact us if you need more information or have trouble accessing the webinar.