Ticonderoga Securities, an institutional broker dealer, has launched an exchange-traded funds desk led by William Bauer.

Bauer joins Ticonderoga with more than 18 years of institutional equity and derivative sales and trading experience, with five years focused on ETFs.

The new group will specialise in market making capabilities for institutional investors moving in and out of ETFs.

The team will also advise clients on portfolio-trading issues, provide analysis and strategy, and assist in order execution through strong collaboration with the firm's sales and trading desk.

Bauer will focus on building out the ETF platform over the next several months, adding support staff, assistant traders and sales traders focused on ETF sales.

"Bill, who has an unparalleled level of expertise in ETFs, is a significant addition to our growing team," says Shawn McLoughlin, chief executive and co-founder of Ticonderoga Securities. "We are confident that Bill will make a strong and immediate contribution to our client offering."

Bauer comes to Ticonderoga from Knight Capital, where he was a director in ETF sales and trading. Before that, he was vice president in sales and trading on the ETF market-making desk at Newedge Financial, and also served as vice president in sales and trading at RBC Capital Markets.

"Hedge funds and money managers are increasingly embracing ETF's as a superior product with greater transparency and liquidity," says Bauer. "As this continues, Ticonderoga will be positioned well for growth."