OpenLink Financial, the US cross-asset trading and risk-management software and services provider, has announced that Kevin Hesselbirg is to step down as chief executive and that a search is under way for a successor. Hesselbirg will become vice chairman of the board and continue in an active advisory role for senior management and the board once a successor is announced. He has been chief executive since 2007 and joined the firm in 1999. The firm has also named Robert Henske as chairman of the board to oversee the transition. Henske is a managing director of Hellman & Friedman, OpenLink's largest investor.