Buyside-focused dark pool operator Liquidnet has recruited a Citigroup executive with two decades of sales and trading experience as the European head of a new global initiative offering clients execution strategies.

Liquidnet launched its global execution and quant services (EQS) group, which provides algorithmic and quant products and services to clients, in December last year. It was set up under the leadership of New York-based Rob Laible, a former head of program trading and electronic execution for Asia at Macquarie who joined the firm last summer.