Zodia Custody, a renowned institution-first digital asset custodian backed by major stakeholders including Standard Chartered, SBI Holdings, and Northern Trust, is strengthening its foothold in the Australian market with the appointment of Drew Bradford as the non-executive Chairman of its Australian operation, Zodia Custody Australia. The move follows Zodia Custody’s recent entry into the Australian market and signifies a significant step in the company’s global expansion strategy.
Bradford, formerly the Executive General Manager, Markets at National Australia Bank (NAB), brings a wealth of experience from his executive roles at institutions like Deutsche Bank across global financial hubs. He will oversee Zodia Custody Australia’s launch and growth, ensuring a seamless entry into the Australian digital asset landscape. Additionally, Bradford will spearhead the implementation of Zodia Custody’s cutting-edge SAF3 platform, designed to provide institutions with a secure and efficient real-time digital asset custody solution.
“Zodia Custody stands out in a crypto-native digital asset world, as a fintech built by institutions, for institutions, combining the technology and agility of a startup with the dependability and assurance of global Tier-1 financial institutions,” expressed Bradford. “I look forward to bringing my own financial markets experience to a new challenge, ensuring Australian institutions are well-prepared to survive and thrive in a digital asset future.”
Accompanying Bradford in Zodia Custody Australia’s expansion efforts is David Ball, who joins as the Head of Business Development for the region. Ball, formerly the Director of APAC operations at BitGo, a prominent digital asset company, will collaborate closely with corporate and institutional clients. His role will involve facilitating the adoption of Zodia Custody’s services, including the SAF3 platform, and an enhanced suite of offerings slated for 2024.
“The Australian market is integral to our global ambitions. Both Drew and David are high-caliber additions to our growing team in the region, who will undoubtedly make that vision become a reality through their wealth of leadership and expertise in the worlds of fintech and digital assets,” stated Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody. “They will be joining the team at an incredibly exciting moment for Zodia Custody. Following a successful launch event, we are moving at speed to innovate the digital asset ecosystem locally and globally to enable financial institutions to maximize the opportunities it presents.”
These strategic appointments come on the heels of Zodia Custody’s recent expansions into Singapore and Hong Kong. The firm, registered with regulatory bodies including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), and Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in the UK, Ireland, and Luxembourg, is also initiating proactive and collaborative engagement with Australian regulators through the establishment of Zodia Custody Australia.
Zodia Custody’s continued global expansion signifies the growing importance of digital asset custodianship in the financial industry, as institutions seek secure and innovative solutions to navigate the evolving landscape of digital assets and blockchain technology.
Photo by Jamie Davies on Unsplash
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