Euronext has named a separate chief executive for the Paris stock exchange and its London unit for the first time ahead of a possible initial public offering this year.

Anthony Attia, formerly senior vice president and chief of staff to Euronext chief executive Dominique Cerutti, has been named  chief executive of Euronext Paris.

Euronext said in a statement: “This position is for the first time independent from the position of Euronext CEO, held by Cerutti, thereby strengthening the role of the Paris stock exchange.”

In addition Lee Hodgkinson will become chief executive of Euronext London once the UK regulator grants the business Recognised Investment Exchange status.

Hodgkinson, previously head of NYSE Euronext sales and client coverage for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific, has also been appointed head of  Euronext’s markets and global sales teams, a new division which will combine the separate commercial activities of Euronext’s markets businesses.

IntercontinentalExchange completed its acquisition of NYSE Euronext last November when it said it would pursue an initial public offering of Euronext’s stock markets this year while keeping Liffe, the derivatives business.

Bloomberg reported this week that ICE plans to sell up to 30% of Euronext before taking it public this year and that European regulators want ICE to keep a 25% stake for three years after the IPO unless it can find other long-term investors.

In another management change Amaury Dauge, formerly head of corporate planning and analysis for NYSE Euronext has been appointed chief financial officer of the Euronext group. Euronext said it is also recruiting a chief operating officer.

Attia, Hodgkinson and the chief operating office will be on the managing board of Euronext group after its separation from Liffe alongside Cerutti, Cees Vermaas, chief executive of Euronext Amsterdam, Luis Laginha, chief executive of Euronext Lisbon and Vincent van Dessel, chief executive of Euronext Brussels.