Fintech firm TradeIX has appointed Hans Jörg Schüttler as the new chairman of the board.

TradeIX, launched in June last year, has developed the first trade finance-specific open-source blockchain platform, called TIX.

The firm claims to be “rewiring global trade” by providing what it calls “the most connected and secure platform infrastructure” for the trade finance industry. It also says that its platform applications, developer tools and core protocol represent the dawn of the “internet of trade”.

Schüttler manages a private investment company, is a board member of Bankable plc, and is advisor to Thames Path Capital. He’s previously held various executive and senior management positions, including as chairman of the management board and CEO at IKB Deutsche Industriebank as well as CEO Germany and CEO Asia at Morgan Stanley.

“His appointment brings strategic leadership and a deep understanding of what it takes to build the trade finance infrastructure we are offering to banks and their corporate clients,” says Rob Barnes, CEO of TradeIX. “The fact that he has chosen to join TradeIX is also a gratifying endorsement of our potential.”

“TradeIX is one of the most promising fintech companies and is at the heart of much-needed innovation in the trade finance space,” adds Schüttler. “The company has tremendous potential leveraging blockchain technology and APIs for the financial supply chain. I am very excited about the opportunity to help this dynamic, fast-moving company with the next phase of expansion and to assist the team as they scale their ambitions with their trade finance platform and building a global end-to-end open account business network.”