Chris Isaacson

Christopher A. Isaacson is an American business executive currently serving as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cboe Global Markets. He is known for his expertise in financial technology and has played a significant role in developing and expanding Bats Global Markets before its acquisition by Cboe.
== Background ==
Isaacson was a founding employee of Bats Global Markets in 2005, where he played a key role in developing the firm into an innovative markets powerhouse. He led the company's expansion into multiple asset classes and geographies before joining Cboe as part of the Bats acquisition in 2017.
=== Cboe Global Markets ===
Isaacson initially served Cboe Global Markets as executive vice president and chief information officer until January 2019, when he was promoted to his current role as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
As COO, Isaacson is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of Cboe, including oversight of all technology and operations, risk and information security, the trade desk, infrastructure, data and analytics, and foreign exchange technology and operations.
=== Bats Global Markets ===
Isaacson was a founding employee of Bats Global Markets in 2005. During his tenure at Bats, he held various leadership positions, including:
* Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer (February 2014 - February 2017) 
* Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (March 2012 - February 2014) 
* Vice President of Operations (October 2006 - June 2007)
=== Earlier Career ===
Before joining Bats, Isaacson worked as a software engineer at Cerner Corp., a healthcare information systems supplier. He also worked as a software developer at Tradebot Systems, a broker-dealer, from 2003 to 2005.
== Board Memberships and Advisory Roles ==
Isaacson has held several board and advisory positions, including:
* Chairman of the Board, Cboe Digital (May 2022 - Present)
* Member Board of Directors, Chi-X Japan and Chi-X Australia (July 2021 - Present)
* Advisory Council Member, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Computing and Engineering (December 2016 - Present)
* Board of Directors, OCC (January 2019 - July 2021)
* Advisory Board Member, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Raikes School of Computer Science and Management (August 2011 - February 2019)
== Recognition ==
Isaacson has been consistently ranked as one of the top technology professionals in financial services by Institutional Investor, which placed him at number 2 in its "Trading Tech 40" in 2017.
In 2024, Isaacson was named by Ingram's Magazine as one of Kansas City's 250 most influential business leaders in 2024.
== Education ==
Isaacson holds a bachelor's degree in information systems with a minor in math from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he was a two-time Academic All-American as a decathlete. He also earned an MBA from the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. In high school, Isaacson was a three-time state champion in the high jump.
== Video ==
Trading platform migration complete, Cboe's Chris Isaacson outlines next steps
Isaacson talked to JLN at FIA Expo 2019 about the exchange operator's next steps after finishing the three-year-long migration of Cboe's exchanges to Bats technology. 
== References ==	
Category:Bios - Executives
Category:Technology
Category:Exchanges
Category:BATS Global Markets
Category:Bats Global Markets - Former Employees
Category:OCC Board of Directors Members
Category:Cboe Global Markets
Category:Cerner Corp. - Former Employees
Category:Tradebot Systems
Category:Tradebot Systems - Former Employees