US-listed brokerage MF Global has rewarded its London-based global head of equities for growing that business, by putting him in charge of its entire European operation, filling a full-time leadership post left open since the previous incumbent resigned in March.

MF Global has picked James Rowsell, who has run the equities business for the past six years, as its managing director of Europe, a role that will give Rowsell responsibility for the company's European growth strategy and oversight of its offices in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Geneva, MF Global said in a statement.