Citadel hires ex-Morgan Stanley engineer for treasury tech

Citadel has hired Alex Armstrong as head of optimisation and execution within its treasury engineering team. He joined the firm after 14 years at Morgan Stanley.

At Morgan Stanley, Armstrong spent eight years as an executive director. About 18 months before leaving he was promoted into the bank’s distinguished engineer programme, a designation for a small number of senior technical staff.

In his new role, Armstrong will lead optimisation and execution work for Citadel’s treasury engineering group. The firm has not provided additional detail on his specific responsibilities.

Morgan Stanley’s distinguished engineer designation is given to roughly 0.3% of the bank’s technology workforce. It recognises deep technical skill and allows recipients to remain in hands-on engineering roles rather than move into management. The programme also encourages participants to work on projects beyond their immediate business areas.

Citadel has recruited other senior technologists from large banks in recent years, including two former technology fellows from Goldman Sachs who joined the firm in London and New York. Citadel declined to comment on Armstrong’s appointment, and Morgan Stanley did not respond to requests for comment.