The chief exec of RJ O’Brien has said the US broker is planning to open an office in Singapore as part of its growth strategy just hours after the firm said it is opening an office in Paris.

Speaking on the sidelines of the FIA conference in Boca Raton, Florida, Gerry Corcoran, the chairman and chief executive of RJ O’Brien, told FOW he is looking to increase further the Chicago-based firm’s presence in Asia with a Singapore-based office.

Corcoran said: “We have offices in Hong Kong, Seoul and Beijing, and we are currently considering a Singapore office. We have several brokers in Hong Kong who would consider relocating to Singapore, and we are also talking to two or three really successful candidates about joining. We have held talks with the regulator though we have not yet made a formal application.”

The comments came just hours after RJ O’Brien, the oldest US futures broker, said it had established a Paris-based affiliate called RJ O’Brien France and was working to open an office perhaps as early as the end of March, which is when the UK is set to leave the European Union.

RJ O’Brien also established in 2018 a presence in Dubai, its first in the Middle East, taking to seven its number of international offices, as first reported by FOW.

Corcoran said organic growth through new offices such as those in France and Dubai could also complement further acquisitions.

“As well as growing the business in new offices such as Paris and Dubai, we are also looking at potential acquisitions assuming they fit with our strategy and culture. This is very important to us.”

RJO acquired in 2015 London-based clearing broker the Kyte Group, as first reported by FOW, effectively doubling the number of RJO staff in London.

Looking ahead, Corcoran is bullish about the outlook for 2019 despite this year inevitably being compared with unprecedented trading activities in 2018.

The RJO chief added: “2018 was a record year for RJ O’Brien and, despite a relatively soft start to 2019, I am confident we will have another strong year this year.”

RJO said in a statement on Tuesday as the FIA conference opened: “We’ve long had a plan to establish a presence in continental Europe that complements our UK offering.”

Speaking on the Paris office, Corcoran added: “The office gives us another great opportunity to attract brokers and clients throughout the continent.”