"I am very appreciative of the important role that Kevin has played in the successful merger and initial integration of the New York Stock Exchange and Archipelago," said John A. Thain, NYSE Group Chief Executive Officer. "On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank Kevin for his many contributions and wish him all the best in his new endeavor."
"Working with Kevin through the years has been a truly great experience," said Jerry Putnam, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, NYSE Group. "Kevin was a major force behind the success of Archipelago and the completion of the merger. We have fought and won many battles together, and have overcome many challenges due in large part to Kevin’s knowledge, insight and drive. Personally and professionally, I am sorry to see Kevin go and wish him continued success."
"Though it’s been a very difficult decision, I’ve decided to take on an exciting new challenge here in Chicago that best balances my career and family interests," Mr. O’Hara said. "Being part of the growth and success of Archipelago and the creation of a new, world-class powerhouse in the NYSE Group has been incredibly exciting and fulfilling. I’ve been privileged to work with two of the brightest and most progressive leaders in this business in John Thain and Jerry Putnam, as well as so many other talented and dedicated people. I will miss working with them yet look forward to my new role with the CBOT."
Mr. O’Hara will remain with NYSE Group as Executive Vice President and Co-General Counsel until April 24.
Kevin J. P. O’Hara, 44, is Executive Vice President and Co-General Counsel of NYSE Group, Inc. Prior to the completion of the merger of the NYSE and Archipelago, Mr. O’Hara had been Archipelago’s Chief Administrative Officer since February 2003, its General Counsel since May 2000, and its Corporate Secretary since May 1999 when he joined the company.
From 1995 to 1999, Mr. O’Hara lived in Romania and Lithuania, and traveled extensively throughout the region, working on the development of legal, regulatory, technological, and financial infrastructure of developing capital markets. He served as Senior Attorney in Bucharest, Romania, for Financial Markets International, Inc., and Project Director in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Project Manager on other projects in the region while based in the United States for The Pragma Corporation.
Prior to his international experience, Mr. O’Hara served as Staff Attorney (1991-1993) and Senior Counsel (1994-1995) in the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted violations of federal securities laws and regulations. In 1993, he served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted violent street crime. Prior to his experience with the federal government, he practiced corporate and commercial litigation at the Chicago law firm of Ross & Hardies (today, McGuire Woods Ross & Hardies) from 1988 to 1991.
Kevin O’Hara earned a J.D. in 1988 from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in 1985 from the University of Chicago. In 1999, he completed the International Finance & Global Capital Markets Executive Program at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Mr. O’Hara is a member of the Board of Trustees of Cristo Rey High School (Chicago) and will join the Board of Trustees of Big Shoulders Fund (Chicago). In 2000-2001, he was an adjunct lecturer at the Loyola University Graduate School of Business where he taught the course "Electronic Markets and Trading."
He is a member of the bars of Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Association.
About NYSE Group, Inc.
NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services.
The NYSE is the world’s largest and most liquid cash equities exchange. The NYSE provides a reliable, orderly, liquid and efficient marketplace where investors buy and sell listed companies’ common stock and other securities. Our listed operating companies represent a total global market capitalization of over $22.5 trillion. In January and February 2006, on an average trading day, over 1.8 billion shares, valued at over $69 billion, were traded on the NYSE.
NYSE Arca is the first open, all-electronic stock exchange in the United States and has a leading position in trading exchange-traded funds and exchange-listed securities. NYSE Arca is also an exchange for trading equity options. NYSE Arca’s trading platform links traders to multiple U.S. market centers and provide customers with fast electronic execution and open, direct and anonymous market access.
NYSE Regulation, an independent not-for-profit subsidiary, regulates member organizations through the enforcement of marketplace rules and federal securities laws. NYSE Regulation also ensures that companies listed on the NYSE and NYSE Arca meet their financial and corporate governance listing standards.
For more information on NYSE Group, go to: www.nyse.com.