The Swiss Futures & Options Association (SFOA) is changing its name to the International Commodities and Derivatives Association (ICDA). 

The change has been made to support the latest requirements of the Association’s members, who include global brokers, bankers, investment fund managers, commodities trading firms, market information providers and service companies, as well as exchanges and clearing houses. From now, ICDA is also accepting individual members for the first time in its long history.
 
Dan Day-Robinson, CEO, ICDA says: “We are delighted to be making these changes to our Association.  We have always been an international, all-inclusive organisation, so we feel that ICDA better reflects who we are and where we are going.” He added, “For the first time, individuals can join us. By bringing commodities back into our name, we are addressing complementary markets; not just in the Swiss hub, but globally.”
 
The Association will build on SFOAs past achievements and expand the remit to include new markets, technology and products. Bringing together firms, and the people who work in them, ICDA will look to be both informative as well as build networking and business opportunities, whilst at the same time leaving some of the regulation support to other organisations that are operating directly in this area.
 
Gary Delany, Director, European Marketing at Options Industry Council and Vice-Chairman of ICDA stated, “These developments underline the Association’s commitment to spearhead innovation across global commodities and derivatives markets”
 
In line with the Association’s goals to inform and embrace new products, ICDA is organising a blockchain conference, which takes place in London in April. The event will focus primarily on business opportunities and market changes that the blockchain will drive both now and in the future.