Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Languages
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Merlin Rajah

Head: Equities Electronic Product
City of Johannesburg

Summary

Experienced Head of Equities Electronic Product at Absa Bank, driving global digital transformation and meeting the evolving needs of clients. Committee member of the international FIX organization's Next Generation of Leaders for EMEA and FIX Africa, providing a comprehensive international outlook. Skilled in leading the Equities Electronic Product team, spearheading electronic sales and trading for Equities, Equity Derivatives, and Commodities on a global scale. Instrumental role in supporting international quantitative trading firms, hedge funds, and global banks by leveraging Absa's state-of-the-art technology solutions and Absa needs in executing into various exchanges globally.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Head: Equities Electronic Product

Absa Group
12.2022 - Current

Head of electronic product (sales and trading) to international and South Africa clients. Responsible for digitalization of Banks trading platforms to cater to the evolving needs of the bank's clients.

Head: Equities Electronic Sales Trading

Absa Group
05.2020 - 12.2022

Head up electronic sales team to sell Absa products, asset classes to international customers.

Business Development Manager - Electronic Trading

JSE
06.2015 - 05.2020

Business development, product development, research and implementation functions for the JSE's multi-Markets. Travel locally and internationally to bring new clients into the South African market.

Senior Client Services Analyst, Trading and Market Services

JSE
09.2011 - 05.2015

Support JSE member firms product and technical needs.

Responsible for dealing with issues reported by both, internal and external clients.
Assisting clients across the Cash Equity, Equity Derivatives, Interest Rate, Currency Derivatives and Commodities markets in resolving any queries relating to trading interfaces to the JSE trading engines and or JSE trading Front-ends.

System Test Analyst

Discovery Limited
10.2008 - 08.2011

Testing of systems and functionality of investment and risk products for Africa's largest health insurer

Fund Administrator

Alexander Forbes
07.2006 - 09.2008

Responsible of several funds of one of South Africa's largest Fund Administrators.

Education

Management - Data Science for Executives -

Graduate School of Business - University of Cape Town
Johannesburg, South Africa
06.2022 - 09.2023

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) - Investment Management

Milpark Business School
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2014 - 01.2018

NDIP I.T (2/3 Years Complete) - Computer Programming

Durban University of Technology
Durban, South Africa
01.2002 - 01.2005

JSE Registered Securities Trader - Trading

SAIFM
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2019 - 01.2019

General Management Learnership -

Dionysus
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2013 - 01.2014

Skills

Sales

Negotiation

Business Development

Deep Digitalization Trading Skills

Customer Service

Electronic Trading

Equities

Derivatives

Teamwork and Collaboration

Languages

English
Afrikaans

Publications

  • Strategic Positioning - JSE Magazine
  • Colocation - Centre of Attention - JSE Magazine
  • AFRICA'S TIME
  • Water'sTechnology.com - South Africa courts HFT firms with Technology
  • AfricanReview.com
  • Finadium
  • Business Live - The rise of A2X

Timeline

Head: Equities Electronic Product

Absa Group
12.2022 - Current

Management - Data Science for Executives -

Graduate School of Business - University of Cape Town
06.2022 - 09.2023

Head: Equities Electronic Sales Trading

Absa Group
05.2020 - 12.2022

JSE Registered Securities Trader - Trading

SAIFM
01.2019 - 01.2019

Business Development Manager - Electronic Trading

JSE
06.2015 - 05.2020

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) - Investment Management

Milpark Business School
01.2014 - 01.2018

General Management Learnership -

Dionysus
01.2013 - 01.2014

Senior Client Services Analyst, Trading and Market Services

JSE
09.2011 - 05.2015

System Test Analyst

Discovery Limited
10.2008 - 08.2011

Fund Administrator

Alexander Forbes
07.2006 - 09.2008

NDIP I.T (2/3 Years Complete) - Computer Programming

Durban University of Technology
01.2002 - 01.2005
Merlin RajahHead: Equities Electronic Product