Will Hardy Joins Eightcap UK as Executive Director

Eightcap UK appoints Will Hardy as executive director

Eightcap UK has hired industry veteran Will Hardy as executive director of its FCA-regulated entity, Eightcap Group Ltd. The Australia-based retail forex and CFD broker has chosen an executive with decades of online trading experience to lead its UK business during a period of wider management change across the group. For traders and industry watchers, the appointment is a signal about how the firm is organising its regional leadership.

Who is Will Hardy?

Hardy has more than 25 years of experience in the online trading industry. His career has covered commercial, sales and FX roles, which gives him a mix of operational and client-facing knowledge that is relevant to a regulated retail brokerage. His previous roles include:

• Global head of commercial operations at Zenfinex, now known as Taurex
• General manager of TigerWit UK
• Head of FX at Tera Europe
• Head of sales and marketing at City Credit Capital

He has also held positions at LMAX and IG Group. His background is relevant to Eightcap UK because the role combines commercial oversight with the regulatory and client-protection duties that come with running a firm authorised by the FCA.

Online brokers rely on experienced commercial and sales leaders to balance client acquisition with compliance, product quality and service standards. Executives who have worked across operations, FX and marketing often understand how these areas interact, which is one reason firms value this kind of career history.

Career before joining Eightcap

Before joining Eightcap, Hardy was head of partners for EMEA at Trade Nation. He left the company in 2024.

Partner roles at online brokers generally focus on relationships with introducing partners and other business sources in a region. Understanding that background helps clients see where the firm's growth priorities may lie under new leadership, although any strategic change should always be confirmed through official company announcements.

Ollie Rosewell's exit and recent management changes

The appointment was made after Ollie Rosewell, who previously led Eightcap UK, left the company earlier this year. When the person running a regulated subsidiary changes, it is sensible for clients to review the company's current contact details, complaint channels and account terms, since these practical points can affect day-to-day trading.

The move follows several recent management changes at Eightcap, including the selection of Bryn Newell as the group's new global CEO. Taken together, these changes show a group reshaping its leadership structure across regions rather than making a single isolated hire.

What the appointment means for Eightcap UK clients

Clients of Eightcap UK are served by a UK-regulated company, so the rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continue to apply regardless of who holds the executive director role. Those rules cover areas such as how client money is held, how risks must be disclosed and which protections apply to retail customers, including negative balance protection for retail CFD trading.

A change of executive leadership does not by itself alter a firm's regulatory status or the protections it must offer. It can, however, be followed by updates to terms, product ranges, funding methods or support arrangements, so it is worth reading any notices the firm sends carefully.

Understanding UK regulation for retail traders

The FCA regulates financial services in the UK and maintains a public register where firms and individuals can be checked. For retail traders, the register is one of the most practical tools available, because it confirms whether a firm is authorised and what permissions it holds.

Regulation does not remove market risk. Forex and CFD prices can move sharply, and leverage can magnify both gains and losses. Regulation mainly sets minimum standards for how a firm behaves, so traders should treat the rules as a starting point rather than a guarantee of profit or safety.

Protection can also differ depending on the entity, the product and the client category. Traders should ask the firm directly for written confirmation of how compensation and dispute resolution apply to their own account before depositing funds.

Steps to take when your broker changes leadership

1. Check the firm's status on the FCA register.
2. Confirm the exact legal entity named in your Eightcap UK client agreement.
3. Read any notices about changes to terms, fees, leverage or product availability.
4. Review how client money is held and what dispute or compensation options apply to your account.
5. Make sure your contact details, identity documents and risk settings are up to date.

Doing these checks regularly, not only after a headline appointment, is a good habit for any trader.

How to evaluate any broker's leadership and governance

Executive appointments are one of several signals traders can use when researching a broker. They are rarely enough on their own, but they can help you build a fuller picture alongside regulatory status, company transparency and the quality of client communication. When a firm such as Eightcap UK changes its leadership, it is a useful moment to revisit your own checklist.

Useful questions to ask include:

• Which entity regulates my account, and in which jurisdiction?
• How are client funds held, and are they segregated from the company's own money?
• What fees, spreads and overnight charges apply to the instruments I trade?
• How are complaints handled, and which external dispute process is available?
• What are the withdrawal terms and any verification steps I need to complete?

What to watch next

In the months ahead, traders and industry observers may look for signs of how the new leadership shapes the company. Useful indicators include product announcements, changes to account conditions, updates to the trading platform and any new regulatory filings published in the relevant jurisdictions.

Service quality is another area to monitor. Response times from support teams, the clarity of published terms and the consistency of execution are practical measures that clients can observe for themselves without relying on press coverage.

About Eightcap

Eightcap is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The company operates regulated subsidiaries in Australia, Cyprus through Eightcap EU Ltd., the UK through Eightcap Group Ltd., and the United Arab Emirates. It also has offshore operations in The Bahamas.

Operating across several jurisdictions means each entity follows its own local rules. That is why traders should always check which company they are contracting with before opening an account. The uk is one part of that wider structure, and its obligations sit with the UK entity rather than with every affiliate in the group.

Eightcap Challenges and prop trading

The group operates Eightcap Challenges, a retail prop trading business. Chairman and former CEO Joel Murphy controls Eightcap, alongside lead analyst Joe Jeffriess.

Prop trading generally refers to firms trading with their own capital, and you can read more about the concept in Proprietary trading (Wikipedia). Challenge-style prop models typically involve evaluation rules set by the firm, so participants should read profit targets, drawdown limits and payout conditions carefully before paying any fees.

Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money quickly, so only trade with capital you can afford to lose.

Related reading

For another recent leadership appointment in the sector, read MultiBank Group Names Ronald Rahme Head of Global Marketing. Traders following the uk can also use the FCA register and the checklist above to stay informed about future changes.