Qube Research Hired New US Operations Chief
The firm has appointed Holly Lau as US chief operating officer to oversee its North American expansion.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in People
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Qube Research has tapped former Citadel Securities executive Holly Lau to serve as its new US chief operating officer. The hire comes as the firm grows its local footprint and electronic trading strategies across offices in New York, Chicago, and Houston.
Why it matters
The firm is prioritizing North American expansion, leveraging a base built on 30% returns reported last year. As Qube scales its engineering and trading headcount, the new leadership role indicates a transition toward institutionalizing its regional operational structure.
Holly Lau joins the firm following an 8-year tenure at Citadel Securities. Qube Research reported 30% returns during the prior year and is currently scaling its workforce in New York, Chicago, and Houston.
The players
Holly Lau
The new US chief operating officer of Qube Research who previously served as COO at Summit Securities.
Qube Research
A quantitative investment firm with a global presence that reported 30% returns in the prior year.
Citadel Securities
A large-scale market maker and financial services firm where Lau held a position for eight years.
The details
Lau will manage US operations, including the firm's Houston-based commodities unit known as Q-TX. Her arrival coincides with an active recruitment campaign focused on engineering and trading talent, marking a shift in the company's regional strategy to support its electronic trading models.
Timeline
Holly Lau concluded an eight-year tenure at Citadel Securities in 2024.
Qube Research began its current US office expansion in 2025.
The appointment was confirmed as of September 22, 2026.
Market Landscape
The firm's expansion follows the established trend of quantitative shops scaling physical infrastructure to support complex electronic trading strategies in North America. This appointment aligns with broader industry efforts to centralize US operations after periods of high performance.
Operators in the financial sector should track this shift as a signal of increased competition for engineering and trading talent in major hubs. Business leaders should reevaluate their recruitment packages to match the competitive landscape in cities where the firm is actively hiring.
The takeaway
The move suggests a long-term commitment to deepening US-based electronic trading capacity. Firms should watch whether the company's next phase of growth leads to a formalization of its compliance or internal operations oversight in the coming fiscal quarters.
Further reading
For broader trends in industry executive shifts, see our coverage of People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hedgeweek.
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