Nathalie Ruiz, Head of Equity Sales, Continent & Global Buyside at Euronext, has been named winner of the Excellence in Equities category at the sixth edition of the 2025 European Women in Finance Awards, held by Markets Media Group at Claridge’s in London earlier this month.
The award celebrates standout individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation across Europe’s financial markets. For Nathalie Ruiz, the recognition is not just a personal milestone, but also reflects the strength, growth and momentum of Euronext’s equities business across the continent. Following her win, we had the opportunity to hear from her about the achievements behind it and what continues to drive success in today’s equity markets.
A year of growth, innovation and client partnerships
“This recognition is a reflection of the exceptional collective work of our equities team,” Nathalie Ruiz said. “It demonstrates the confidence our clients have in us and the way we’ve positioned ourselves as trusted partners in today’s equity market.”
Over the past year, Euronext has continued to strengthen its leadership in equities – both in trading and listings – through close integration across its local markets, a deep understanding of client needs, and strong collaboration between sales, product and research teams.
One milestone was Euronext’s inclusion in the CAC 40® index, a moment that Nathalie Ruiz described as a reflection of the strength and relevance of its equities business, along with steady client confidence. “It speaks to the trust clients and the market have in us, and how far we’ve come in building a unified, resilient equities offering across all our markets,” she said.
Meeting the changing market head-on
The equities market in 2025 looks markedly different from five or ten years ago, and expectations for service, insight and adaptability have risen sharply in return.
“What sets us apart today,” Nathalie Ruiz explained, “is our ability to actively listen to our clients and rapidly adapt. The sales team works hand-in-hand across departments, especially with our product and quant teams, to turn feedback into tangible, data-backed solutions.”
This ability to anticipate client needs, rather than simply react to them, has reinforced Euronext’s role as a strategic partner across the buy and sell sides. “Clients no longer want just a venue. They want partners who provide liquidity, insight and long-term value,” she added.
A huge differentiator
A core strength of Euronext’s equities offering lies in its in-house quant research team, which is one of the largest of any exchange group in Europe. This team provides clients with actionable data and market intelligence that supports everything from behavioural analysis to execution strategy.
“Our quant team is a huge differentiator,” said Nathalie Ruiz. “They consistently deliver insight that our clients can use internally, whether it’s for navigating volatility or optimising trading decisions. That kind of value is what keeps partnerships strong.”
This focus on research, innovation and partnership extends across Euronext’s markets, underlining the importance of understanding both where the market is today in addition to where it is heading.
Leadership grounded in empowerment and purpose
With over 15 years of experience in equities and two decades in financial services, Nathalie Ruiz brings both deep market knowledge and a collaborative leadership style. For her, leadership is about empowering others, driving innovation and staying grounded in client needs.
“I’ve worked with incredibly talented people throughout my career — in investment banks, with retail brokers, and now at Euronext. This award is a recognition of all the teams I work with at Euronext and the work we’ve done together,” she said. “True leadership is about creating the conditions for your team to succeed, thinking creatively with clients to focus on their needs, and always keeping an eye on the bigger picture: how can we help shape the future of equity markets for the benefit of the entire financial ecosystem?”
As Euronext continues to lead as Europe’s leading market infrastructure, Nathalie Ruiz’s recognition is a testament to its ambition in equities — one built on data, insight, client partnership and innovation.