Chicago’s CME Group has hired a legal expert from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to lead its compliance work across Asia.

Eli Cohen, who has also worked at Euroclear, joins the US futures exchange and will be responsible for the firm’s Asia Pacific local office operations.

He will take charge of the legal work when it comes marketing and selling CME's exchanges, clearing house and data repositories in the region.

The appointment comes after CME - which competes with derivatives house Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) - doubled its Asia Pacific workforce last year.

Currently the group has about 90 employees in the region, across five offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.

Work has focused on introducing new Asia-centric derivatives and deepening ties with exchanges and clearing houses across the region.

In 2014 it received a clearing and settlement services license from Australian regulators, which allows it to clear OTC interest rate swaps traded on its platform.

"We are pleased to welcome Eli to CME Group in this critical role, as we continue to grow our business across Asia Pacific," said Christopher Fix, CME's Asia Pacific head.

"Eli's extensive knowledge of the derivatives industry and market structure in Asia will be crucial in supporting the expansion of our products and services in the region."

Cohen has 25 years of experience, having worked at SGX, where he was head of regulation, as well as Euroclear and the Asian Development Bank.

He has also worked at Baker & McKenzie in Chicago, Moscow and Washington.