Today, Kurt Looyens, former Country Executive for ABN AMRO Bank Spain, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX), the regulated and insured digital asset exchange and token sale platform with institutional-grade practices.

As the current Head of Business Development for GBX, Kurt takes over from Nick Cowan, who maintains his position of CEO of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) & GSX Group. Kurt holds extensive experience in the banking and traditional financial spheres, with an exceptional career within ABN AMRO, including the role of Country Executive Spain and Chief Strategist & Global Head of Business Development within the International Diamond and Jewellery Group of ABN AMRO.

The GBX Today

Kurt begins his appointment on the back of the GBX receiving its full Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Licence from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) in November 2018. Since the start of the year, GBX has listed a wide range of new tokens, Stablecoins, and additional fiat pairings. Commenting on the announcement, and the current position of the GSX Group, Kurt said:

“I am excited to take the reigns of the GBX as we embark on an exciting new phase of development. This is a very interesting period for the wider GSX Group, following last week’s announcement that the GSX Global Market (GSX GM) will now offer the listing of digital debt and digital fund securities on its multilateral trading facility (MTF). My experience building up regional businesses with ABN AMRO Bank, coupled with my in-depth knowledge of financial solutions for a global audience has prepared me to drive the GBX forward as a world-leading digital asset exchange.”

The incumbent CEO of the GBX, Nick Cowan, will continue to focus on the development of the GSX Group and Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX), which is utilising the proprietary blockchain technology of the STACS Network. Nick commented, on the new appointment, stating:

“We are pleased to have Kurt transition into the position of CEO of the GBX, following a very successful spell as Head of Business Development. His vast experience in finance, business development, and regulatory matters will provide the GBX with essential leadership to cement its position as a leading digital asset exchange. Kurt shares the overarching vision for the close interaction between the GSX and the GBX, with both entities working in tandem to capture the spirit of collaboration that has fuelled Gibraltar’s pursuit of blockchain innovation.”

GBX For the Future

The GBX will benefit from the experience and professionalism that Kurt provides, as the exchange continues to progress, in enhancing the user experience and institutional-grade best practices as part of a wider, global, fintech ecosystem within the GSX Group. Kurt concluded by saying:

“GBX and GSX have played a prominent role in Gibraltar’s emergence as a thriving blockchain hub. Part of this success has stemmed from building a strong sense of trust within our community, recognising the needs and expectations of traders and putting them first. Broadening the reach of blockchain technology and digital assets to as many users as possible has always been at the heart of our efforts and I look forward to leading the next chapter of success for the GBX,”

Follow Kurt’s progress as the new CEO of GBX and connect with him on Twitter!

Kurt will be conducting an AMA on 24th April. Join our Telegram community for more details or ‘like’ our facebook page to stay updated.