CFI Financial Group appoints Federico Cirulli as Chairman

CFI Financial Group names Federico Cirulli Chairman

Online trading provider CFI Financial Group has appointed Federico Cirulli as Chairman of its Board of Directors. The appointment comes after record trading activity and further international growth for the Group.

Board changes can look like routine corporate news, but they often show how a broker plans to manage governance, regulation and growth over the coming years. This article explains what changed, who is involved and what the move may mean for clients and traders.

What changed at the top of CFI

CFI says the change supports the development of a governance structure suited to its expanding operations. The announcement follows the appointment of Ziad Melhem as Group Chief Executive Officer in June 2025 and the addition of independent directors to the CFI Board in November 2025.

In practical terms, the appointment of Federico Cirulli as Chairman completes a sequence of changes. It began with the executive appointment at CEO level, continued with independent directors on the Board, and now places an independent Chairman at the head of the Board itself.

Co-Founders Hisham Mansour and Eduardo Fakhoury will step down from their positions as Chairman and Vice Chairman. They will remain on the Board as Non-Executive Directors and continue to support CFI's long-term plans. The Group's executive team and business strategy will remain unchanged.

Who is Federico Cirulli?

Federico Cirulli has more than 20 years of experience in regulated financial services. His career includes CEO and senior leadership positions in brokerage and asset management. He previously served as CEO of Swissquote UK and held senior roles at MIG Capital, which Swissquote acquired, CMC Markets, and ActivTrades.

His experience covers corporate leadership, governance, regulatory requirements, international expansion, and the growth of regulated financial businesses. Those areas matter because a chairman leads the Board, sets its agenda and helps ensure that management decisions are properly examined.

For a company operating across several regions, that background can be relevant. Each market has its own rules, reporting duties and client expectations, so experience with regulated environments is a core part of the role.

Governance roles explained

The announcement involves several roles that work together. The table below summarises the leadership positions mentioned in the release, so readers can see how responsibilities are now distributed.

Role	Person	Status in this announcement
Chairman of the Board	Federico Cirulli	Newly appointed
Group Chief Executive Officer	Ziad Melhem	Appointed in June 2025
Co-Founder, Non-Executive Director	Hisham Mansour	Steps down as Chairman, remains on the Board
Co-Founder, Non-Executive Director	Eduardo Fakhoury	Steps down as Vice Chairman, remains on the Board
Independent directors	Added to the CFI Board	Added in November 2025

The decision to appoint Federico Cirulli reflects a broader trend in financial services, where companies separate the leadership of the Board from day-to-day executive management. This separation is often described as good governance, because it creates clearer lines of accountability.

To learn more about the rules that shape how brokers are supervised, you can read about Financial regulation (Wikipedia).

Statements from the leadership team

Hisham Mansour, Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director of CFI Financial Group, said:

"We built CFI with the ambition of creating a company that could grow beyond its founders and serve clients for the long term. Federico's appointment is an important part of that plan. I have known and worked with Federico for many years. He is an experienced industry professional, and we share many of the same values about building a lasting business. Eduardo and I remain fully committed to CFI's success, and we have complete confidence in Federico and the team as the Group begins its next chapter."

Ziad Melhem, Group CEO of CFI Financial Group, said:

"Every market we enter brings a new license, a regulator, and clients who expect us to operate there for the long term. Growth creates responsibilities as well as opportunities, so governance must develop alongside the business. I am pleased to welcome Federico as Chairman and look forward to the standards he will set for the Group."

Federico Cirulli, Chairman of CFI Financial Group, said:

"CFI has built a strong business over more than 25 years by combining entrepreneurial drive with institutional standards. That achievement reflects Hisham and Eduardo's vision and the quality of the team they have built. I am honored to become Chairman at an important point in the Group's development.

"I will work closely with the Board, Ziad, and the management team to build on CFI's existing strengths and maintain focus on its key priorities. The Group must continue growing with discipline, sound governance, and high operating standards as it expands its markets, products, and services."

What the appointment means for CFI's next stage

The appointment follows two years of changes to CFI's leadership and governance structure, alongside ongoing investment in technology, products, and international operations. With an experienced executive team, an independent Board, and an independent Chairman, CFI has established a leadership structure to support its continued growth as a global trading and investment group.

In summary, the appointment of the cirulli gives CFI a leadership framework built around experienced management, independent oversight and a clear chain of responsibility. These elements are central to how a regulated group handles expansion.

As Chairman, Cirulli will work with the Board and executive management to support CFI's next stage of growth, with an emphasis on operational standards, scalability, and international markets.

What traders should consider

Leadership news is useful context, but it should never replace your own checks before opening an account. When you review any broker, consider the following points:

• Confirm which regulated entity will hold your account, and which regulator supervises it.
• Read the broker's published client agreements, fee schedules and risk disclosures.
• Check how client funds are handled and what protections apply in your country.
• Look for clear information on execution, spreads and withdrawal procedures.
• Compare governance announcements with the broker's regulatory status over time.

The new Chairman, the cirulli, joins a Group that already operates across several regions. Traders who use CFI services should keep an eye on how the Board and management communicate future changes, especially those affecting markets, products and regulation.

For another recent industry move, see Federico Pereira Joins ATFX as Senior Business Development.

Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of losing money quickly, so only trade with funds you can afford to lose and make decisions based on your own research.

About CFI

Founded in 1998, CFI Financial Group is an online trading and investment provider with more than 25 years of experience in regulated financial services. The company offers access to global and local markets, including equities, currencies, and commodities, through trading operations in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cape Town, Baku, Beirut, Amman, Cairo, and Bogotá.

CFI focuses on long-term client relationships and provides services for traders at different stages of their experience. Its Global Brand Ambassadors include seven-time Formula One™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and tennis champion Maria Sharapova.

The company also partners with sports and cultural organizations, including the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, MI Cape Town, the Lebanese Basketball Federation, and the Jordan Football Association. These partnerships support CFI's work in sports, culture, and community initiatives.