Wassim Anastasiou did something rare for a broker chief at the one-year mark: he led with what he fixed, not what he sold. His first year as Traze MENA CEO started with foundations, risk and clients who actually trade.
That is a model worth studying, and the numbers behind it are specific.
From the Client Desk to the CEO Chair
He joined ICM.com in London in June 2016 as a client services executive. He became operations manager in 2020 and, from January 2024, served as Director of Operations and Senior Executive Officer for ICM.com in the UAE. Along the way he handled support, onboarding and compliance monitoring across three regulatory frameworks, according to Finance Magnates.
On 3 November 2025 he moved to Traze as Regional Director for MENA, months after the broker secured a UAE Category 1 licence. By mid-2026, Traze was presenting him as CEO for MENA.
Year One in Three Numbers
In his anniversary post, Anastasiou shared his own figures, not audited ones. New funded clients grew about 14.5%, active traders grew about 9%, and roughly 95% of the new funded clients were actively trading.
Look at the third number. Plenty of brokers report sign-ups. Few say how many of those clients actually trade.
His priorities were short: fix the foundations, tighten risk, and focus on clients who engage with the platform.
Recognition That Backs It Up
The Global Economics Awards named him Best Emerging Leader in Online Brokerage for the UAE. The Arabian Mirror listed him among its 10 Inspiring Personalities Shaping the Future of the Gulf in December 2025. Traze was also named Fastest Growing Broker at the UF AWARDS MEA 2026.
What Wassim Anastasiou’s Year Teaches Traders
Activation beats acquisition. A broker that measures active traders has a reason to improve execution, support and education, and you feel that as a client.
Risk comes first. His stated order was the risk framework first and growth second. That is the order to look for when you compare brokers.
Technology is part of the job. In an Al Bayan Magazine feature, he tied transparency to AI, data, regulation and trust in regional trading.
For more MENA leadership stories, read our roundup of Exclusive Markets, Grand Markets and Definite and our profile of Tarik Chebib. Want to meet brokers and IBs in one room? Join us at Go Beyond the Charts.
Register free for Go Beyond the Charts
Which matters more to you in a broker: fast growth, or active, well-managed clients?
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. This article is for information only and is not investment advice. It is not a solicitation to open a broker account.
