Stephen M. Merkel

Stephen M. Merkel is Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice President, and General Counsel of BGC Group, Inc., a global brokerage and financial technology firm with substantial involvement in gaming and sports betting. He has served the company for over two decades, originally joining in September 2001 as Corporate Secretary and General Counsel.

Before his current role, Merkel spent many years as an attorney and executive at Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., where he was Executive Managing Director and General Counsel. He transitioned to BGC Group (then BGC Partners) in 2001 and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Assistant Corporate Secretary in 2019. In 2025, he was elevated to Chairman of the Board while retaining his executive legal responsibilities.

Throughout his tenure, Merkel has been deeply involved in the legal and regulatory aspects of BGC Group's gaming, sports betting, and fintech businesses, including oversight of subsidiaries like GFI Group and Cantor Fitzgerald's sports betting operations. His insider trading disclosures are closely watched by the market, and he maintains active registrations with FINRA as a securities professional.