Jean-Guillaume D. - Derivatives structurer

Jean-Guillaume, a graduate of SUPELEC who has a DEA d'El Karoui, joined Exane in 1999. After three years at the heart of the derivatives research team, he became the first structurer in a team that now comprises six people.

What does your job involve exactly?
"I invent and price new products. I also have to define the trading risks. We work hand in hand with the sales and trading teams."

Why did you join Exane?
"I'm quite an impatient person: I like it when things move, when they make headway. I was looking for a constantly changing, stimulating environment. Exane is a very pragmatic company, with a focus on business, where there are really close ties with management. Most of the managers are in the trading floors and know the teams."

Why structured derivatives?
"Once we've got an idea, we make a product. There is constant innovation, genuine momentum. This job also enables me to be in direct contact with the trading floor, where everything happens so quickly. I like working in this "real-time" environment as opposed to working on projects that take three or five months to complete. It does, however, have its constraints as you must be able to work under pressure. The other thing that I like about my job is the satisfaction I get when our products are a commercial success: there is real team work with the sales team and traders in order to define the product that best suits our clients' needs."

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