NYSE Euronext Names Deputy to Acting CFO

NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan L. Niederauer has asked Joost van der Does de Willebois, deputy CFO and head of the company’s Amsterdam market, to assume the role of acting chief financial officer. He will replace CFO and Executive Vice President Nelson Chai, who is leaving to become CFO and EVP of Merrill Lynch.

John Thain used his first day as CEO of Merrill Lynch to appoint Chai. The Financial Times reports that Chai’s move to Merrill marks his continued ascent: he became CFO of the exchange following the reverse takeover of Archipelago and the NYSE in 2005, taking the Big Board public in the process.

Chai had been CFO at Archipelago since 2000 but has never worked at an investment bank and has limited experience of risk management, which comprised part of his successor’s role.

At NYSE Euronext Bruno Colmant, head of the company’s Belgian market and NYSE Euronext European Affairs, will become deputy CFO. Stéphane Biehler, NYSE Euronext corporate controller and senior vice president, will become chief accounting officer.

As per the NYSE Group-Euronext merger agreement, these appointments are subject to the non-objection of the European College of Regulators.