Hugh Freedberg

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Hugh Ronald Freedberg was a British business executive who served as the chief executive officer of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE) during a critical period in its history.Freedberg passed away in August of 2024 after a long illness.
Freedberg is the former chairman of NYSE Liffe. He was named to the position effective May 1, 2009, succeeding Andre Villeneuve, and left the position in April of 2012. Before that, he served as head of global derivatives at NYSE Euronext starting in 2002. He served as CEO of Liffe before taking his spot at NYSE Euronext. 
In April 2012, NYSE Liffe announced that Freedberg would retire as chairman and that Alan Whiting would succeed him, effective May 1, 2012. 
In 2011, Freedberg was inducted into the Futures Industry Association's Futures Hall of Fame, which was established in 2005 to commemorate outstanding contributions to the global futures and options community.
== Background ==
=== LIFFE ===
Freedberg led LIFFE through a significant transition period, culminating in its acquisition by Euronext in 2001. 
Freedberg served as the chief executive officer of LIFFE during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His tenure was marked by significant technological advancements and strategic decisions that shaped the future of the exchange.
In 2001, Freedberg played a key role in negotiating LIFFE's acquisition by Euronext. The deal, valued at £555 million (€892 million), saw LIFFE shareholders receive £18.25 per share, representing a 112% premium to the pre-process share price.
As part of the acquisition agreement, Freedberg and his management team were set to assume responsibility for all of Euronext's derivatives business. This move was seen as a recognition of LIFFE's expertise in the derivatives market and the success of its electronic trading platform.
While CEO of Liffe, Freedberg helped engineer a joint venture with NASDAQ to trade security futures in the U.S. called Nasdaq LIFFE. 
=== LIFFE CONNECT ===
One of Freedberg's most significant achievements at LIFFE was the development and implementation of LIFFE CONNECT, the exchange's electronic trading platform. The platform was a key factor in the Euronext acquisition, with plans to migrate Euronext's derivatives business to LIFFE CONNECT, significantly increasing its trading volumes.
===Other Roles===
Freedberg started his career in financial services in 1975 at American Express, where he started as marketing and sales director before being appointed general manager. In 1986, he joined Salomon Inc. as chief executive of The Mortgage Corporation. In 1990, he became an executive director at TSB, the UK-based bank, and chief executive of the insurance and investment services division, after which, in 1991 he was appointed chief executive of the Hill Samuel Group.
Other positions he held at TSB Group included deputy chief executive (1991-1996) and director of Macquarie Bank from 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 1998 he was a managing partner at Korn Ferry International.
Freedberg also has served as a member of the supervisory board of Atos Euronext SBF from 2004 to 2005, and was a member of the supervisory board of Atos Euronext Market Solutions Holding S.A.S.
== Education ==
He was educated at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and the University of South Africa, and also completed senior management programs at Harvard and at Amos Tuck School of Business Administration.
== References ==	
Category:Futures Hall of Fame Members
Category:Derivatives
Category:Exchanges
Category:Euronext.LIFFE
Category:Euronext.LIFFE - Former Employees
Category:Former Exchange CEOs
Category:NYSE Euronext
Category:NYSE Liffe
Category:NYSE Liffe - Former Employees
Category:LIFFE
Category:LIFFE - Former Employees
Category:American Express
Category:American Express - Former Employees
Category:Korn Ferry International
Category:Korn Ferry International - Former Employees
Category:TSB Group
Category:TSB Group - Former Employees
Category:Deceased
Category:Deceased Industry Executives