Foreign Exchange Markets Expert | Co-Author of FX Cash Products | Host of The Trading Floor Podcast
David Axtell has spent over three decades operating at the intersection of foreign exchange markets, treasury management, and institutional banking across four continents. From running dealing rooms in Riyadh and Doha to building nostro networks spanning 120 currencies, his career represents authentic market experience—not academic theory.
David's work has taken him through the dealing rooms of National Westminster Bank, HSBC in Dubai, Qatar National Bank in Doha, USCB in Riyadh and SHUAA Capital in DIFC and most recently moving to the buy-side where he ran a team that built and managed a portfolio of 200 plus nostro relationships that became the infrastructure for multi-currency payments across not only majors but most importantly emerging and frontier currencies.
Three of the people David has mentored have become bank CEOs. His philosophy is simple: markets reward those who understand both the mechanics and the psychology of trading—and the best way to learn is from someone who's done it.
Building and running treasury operations, balance sheet management, and institutional liquidity frameworks
Spot, forwards, swaps, NDFs, and interest rate products across major and emerging market currencies
Nostro network development, correspondent banking, and multi-currency payment operations
Deep expertise in African, Middle Eastern, and Asian currency markets and their unique dynamics
For five years managed the team that built Crown Agents Partner network to 200 plus nostros as well as many more liquidity providers to service 120 currencies, with strong speciality across the African continent.
First market maker in Saudi Riyal FRAs and Interest Rate Swaps. Instrumental in creating, alongside the central bank SAMA, the official fixing mechanism for the SAR IBOR.
A career defined by developing talent. Three professionals mentored by David have gone on to become CEOs of financial institutions - a testament to his commitment to building the next generation of market practitioners.
Held "Boot Camps" for entry level dealers as well as for sales teams looking to understand the working of treasury departments.
The Trading Floor podcast brings institutional FX knowledge to a wider audience. Each episode combines practical market insight with educational depth—the conversations that happen after the textbooks close.
From spot trading mechanics to complex derivatives, from emerging market currencies to risk management frameworks, David shares the perspectives that only come from decades on the front line.
Listen NowBook 1 in the FX Markets Professional Series. Comprehensive coverage of spot, forwards, swaps, and non-deliverable forwards—written by practitioners, for practitioners. Real-world examples from institutional trading.
Pre-Order NowBook 2 in the FX Markets Professional Series. Deep dive into options pricing, volatility surfaces, exotic structures, and practical trading strategies. For corporate treasurers, risk managers, and traders working with currency options.
Coming Q2 2026Available for consultancy on treasury operations, FX markets, risk management, and market infrastructure development. Speaking engagements and training programs for corporate treasury teams and financial institutions.