Independent financial research company, Defaqto, has appointed Asitha Rodrigo as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Rodrigo, who leaves Standard and Poor’s as Senior Director for EMEA Systems, has over 15 years experience in technology and change leadership across the financial services, media and e-Commerce sectors. He has extensive experience of technology strategy and transformational change in fast moving financial markets.

Rodrigo will lead one of Defaqto’s core operations - developing software tools to enable the multi-channel distribution of product data and research to the financial service industry.

Defaqto’s Chief Executive, Kenn Herskind, said, “Independent financial research goes hand in hand with modern interfaces and research tools. This appointment of a CTO with considerable sector experience signifies our commitment to delivering a second-to-none online customer service. Watch this space.”

LCH.Clearnet SA (LCH.Clearnet) today announces the launch of its international CDSClear service, an extension to the established domestic French offering launched in March 2010.  CDSClear now offers an innovative, multi-jurisdictional CDS clearing framework.

Managing Agency Partners Ltd (MAP), the independent Lloyd's of London underwriter, has become the latest insurer to sign up to ClusterSeven’s solution for governance and insight into unstructured financial data.

M&G Investment Management have successfully upgraded to a fully SWIFT-integrated configuration of CAMS, announced Trace Financial, supplier of the comprehensive Corporate Actions Management System.

Baring Asset Management (Barings), the international investment management firm, has appointed Eric Poon to the role of Regional Head of Institutional Business, Asia ex Japan and Alexander Garton to the role of Director, Client Service and Relationship Development, effective immediately.

BNP Paribas Securities Services today announced that it has appointed Viraj Kulkarni as head of Securities Services in India. Mr Kulkarni will drive the custodian’s business activities in the booming Indian market, which include custody and clearing, transfer agency and domestic fund services for buy- and sell-side institutions.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) today handed down a judgment in favour of German, Spanish, Belgian and US investment funds.