Finance Magnates has expanded the FM Awards 2026 CEO category with two new titles recognising individual executives rather than the companies they lead: Brokerage (B2C) CEO of the Year and Fintech (B2B) CEO of the Year.
The addition marks a shift in how the awards programme approaches leadership recognition. Until now, FM Awards categories have largely focused on company performance. These new titles place a named executive, and their personal track record over the past six to twelve months, at the centre of the assessment.
What the FM Awards 2026 CEO Categories Cover
The B2C title is aimed at CEOs running brokerages, investment platforms, trading apps, and prop trading firms, essentially businesses that serve retail traders and consumers directly. The B2B title covers leaders of companies that sell into the industry itself: trading technology providers, liquidity providers, payment companies, compliance providers, and institutional trading firms.
Only one CEO will win each title. Entry is open only to official FM Awards 2026 nominees, and the CEO being put forward must have held their current role for at least six months at an active financial services or fintech company.
Nominations for the FM Awards 2026 opened in March 2026, with the open call running through to 11 September 2026, when nominations close. Voting then closes on 16 October 2026, ahead of the gala.
How Winners Will Be Judged
The scoring split is 70% expert panel assessment and 30% industry and community voting. That weighting is deliberate: the panel carries the majority of the decision, which limits the extent to which a well-networked firm can simply outmobilise a less prominent competitor on votes.
The judging panel for the FM Awards 2026 includes Pere Monguió, Co-CEO of FXStreet; Nikolai Isayev, Chief Operating Officer and Editor-in-Chief of FinanceFeeds; Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive; and Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief of Finance Magnates, among other industry professionals.
According to the FM Awards 2026 judging panel announcement, assessors will evaluate nominees against the criteria set for each specific category, working from the information and supporting evidence submitted as part of the awards process. Winners will not be selected on brand awareness or voting strength alone.
For the CEO awards specifically, judges will look at business performance and measurable results, leadership and team impact, product or service development, and contribution to the broader financial sector, all within the preceding six to twelve months. Companies are expected to submit clear examples and supporting documentation rather than general statements.
What the Winning CEOs Receive
Recognition extends beyond the title itself. Both winning CEOs will receive the official FM Awards CEO of the Year 2026 title, a physical trophy, and a place on stage at the FM Awards Gala. Finance Magnates will also publish a dedicated winner announcement, provide social media coverage, and conduct one executive interview with each winner, giving them a platform to discuss their leadership approach, company plans, and sector outlook.
That last element carries practical value for executives who want to build a public profile independent of their company’s brand, particularly in a sector where leadership changes are frequent and personal reputation travels between firms.
The Gala and How to Submit
Both winners will be announced at the FM Awards Gala in Cyprus on 6 November 2026. The event brings together senior professionals from online trading, fintech, payments, technology, and financial services.
Eligible companies, those already holding FM Awards 2026 nominee status, can submit their CEO by completing the official submission form provided by their Finance Magnates account manager. Companies not yet nominated can register their interest now to receive further details on the CEO of the Year submission process.
With nominations closing on 11 September 2026, firms that want their CEO considered have a defined window to act. The voting deadline of 16 October then gives the community just over three weeks to weigh in before the panel delivers its final assessment ahead of the Cyprus gala.
