London-based retail stockbroker Freetrade has appointed Jenny Zhao as its new Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approval. Zhao will succeed Viktor Nebehaj, who co-founded the company a decade ago with Adam Dodds and has been serving in the top leadership role.
Freetrade was among the early providers of commission-free stockbroking in the UK and has expanded to oversee more than £4 billion in client assets under management. The firm was acquired by IG Group at the beginning of last year, marking a significant milestone in its development and positioning it within a larger financial services group.
Leadership transition at Freetrade
Zhao's appointment marks a leadership transition from a founder-led structure to a new chief executive with a predominantly marketing-focused background. Her role will involve guiding Freetrade following its acquisition by IG Group and overseeing the company's operations as it continues to serve retail investors with its commission-free stockbroking offering. The change in leadership comes roughly ten years after the company's founding by Nebehaj and Dodds.
Professional background of Jenny Zhao
Before joining Freetrade, Zhao most recently served as Managing Director at Farewill, a technology company that offers wills and funeral planning services. In that role, she was responsible for leading the business at an executive level within the broader tech and consumer services sector.
Prior to Farewill, Zhao spent almost five years at clean energy supplier Bulb. During her tenure there, she held senior marketing positions and ultimately served as General Manager for Bulb's activities in France, the US, and Spain. This remit gave her responsibility for overseeing the group's presence in multiple international markets.
Zhao also worked at media agency Manning Gottlieb for close to five years, further building her marketing and media experience. Across these roles, she has developed a career with a strong focus on marketing, brand, and customer-facing strategy in sectors ranging from media to clean energy and technology-enabled consumer services.
With her appointment still subject to regulatory clearance, Zhao is set to take over the role of CEO at Freetrade from Nebehaj once all necessary approvals have been obtained. The leadership change comes at a time when Freetrade continues to manage billions in client assets and operate under the ownership of IG Group.
