Cryptocurrency exchange and custodian Gemini Europe has hired former Starling Bank co-founder Julian Sawyer as its managing director in the UK and Europe.

He will be responsible for shaping Gemini's overall strategy in the region, developing products, and charting the course for operations. Based in London and reporting to Gemini's president Cameron Winklevoss, he will also manage hiring, as his team builds out its physical presence in the country.

Sawyer has more than 20 years of experience in financial services, most recently building out business operations, including payment systems, card operations and customer service at Starling. Prior to that he founded Bluerock Consulting, a financial management consultancy that he led as chief executive from 1999 to 2011. Sawyer also worked as a management consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Ernst & Young, specialising in large-scale transformation in the cards and payments industry.

"Europe is the birthplace of modern financial markets and the United Kingdom has been a global financial capital of innovation for hundreds of years," said Tyler Winklevoss, chief executive of Gemini. "Gemini needs to be here and Julian's deep knowledge and fintech expertise in these regions make him well-suited to lead Gemini's expansion into this pioneering area of the world."

Sawyer is the latest addition to a group of senior leaders who have joined Gemini over the past 18 months, including Noah Perlman as chief compliance officer, David Damato as chief security officer, Sydney Schaub as general counsel, Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto as managing director for operations and Robert Cornish as chief technology officer.

With more than 200 employees, Gemini is ramping up its global footprint. Outside of the US, it is also available in Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

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