Key Takeaways
- • Citadel Securities has added nearly 100 employees in Asia Pacific, bringing its regional headcount to approximately 400, according to Bloomberg.
- • Almost half of this year's Asian hires are based in Hong Kong, with the remainder spread across Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
- • The firm is expanding its Hong Kong office at Two International Finance Centre by 40%, and Asia Pacific is now its second-largest source of revenue outside the US.
- • CEO Peng Zhao is pursuing partnerships with local and international banks to expand trading across Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
- • The firm is competing with Jane Street, which is also increasing its Hong Kong presence.
Summary
Citadel Securities is accelerating its expansion across Asia Pacific, adding nearly 100 employees and increasing its Hong Kong office space as the region becomes its second-largest source of revenue outside the US, according to a report by Bloomberg. The electronic market maker has raised its Asian headcount to approximately 400. Almost half of this year's new hires are based in Hong Kong, with the remainder spread across Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. The firm is also expanding its Hong Kong office at Two International Finance Centre by 40% to accommodate further growth.
Chief executive Peng Zhao said the firm is seeking partnerships with local and international banks to expand its trading activities across Asian markets, including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The strategy builds on the firm's established US equities and fixed income operations and its recently launched Hong Kong-based structured products business. Citadel Securities is also considering block trading capabilities in Asia, potentially delivered through bank partnerships rather than by replicating its US business model.
The expansion follows several senior appointments, including former Millennium Management India chief executive Prakash Subramanian KV as country head for India and Singapore, and former Morgan Stanley executive Richard Smerin as global head of structured products. The firm is also increasing recruitment of sales and trading professionals alongside its existing technology-focused workforce.
The firm has launched a high-touch equities trading service for institutional investors, which executes large US stock orders that require greater human involvement to minimise market impact. Zhao said the number of active clients using the service doubled between the first and second halves of 2026.
The expansion comes amid growing competition from quantitative trading firms, including Jane Street, which is also increasing its presence in Hong Kong.
Chief executive Peng Zhao said the firm is seeking partnerships with local and international banks to expand its trading activities across Asian markets, including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The strategy builds on the firm's established US equities and fixed income operations and its recently launched Hong Kong-based structured products business. Citadel Securities is also considering block trading capabilities in Asia, potentially delivered through bank partnerships rather than by replicating its US business model.
The expansion follows several senior appointments, including former Millennium Management India chief executive Prakash Subramanian KV as country head for India and Singapore, and former Morgan Stanley executive Richard Smerin as global head of structured products. The firm is also increasing recruitment of sales and trading professionals alongside its existing technology-focused workforce.
The firm has launched a high-touch equities trading service for institutional investors, which executes large US stock orders that require greater human involvement to minimise market impact. Zhao said the number of active clients using the service doubled between the first and second halves of 2026.
The expansion comes amid growing competition from quantitative trading firms, including Jane Street, which is also increasing its presence in Hong Kong.
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