JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Knight Trading Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NITE) today announced that the company has hired six professionals for its cash equity trading operations in November.

Knight appointed Christopher P. Sula Senior Vice President and Co-Head of Nasdaq Trading with Knight's current Head of Nasdaq Trading, Joseph M. Ricciardi. Mr. Sula joins Knight from Merrill Lynch. Knight also appointed the following Senior Traders: John P. Buckley from Goldman Sachs; Christopher J. Conefry from Salomon Smith Barney; Mark D. Crossman from J.P. Morgan Chase; Steven T. Duca from J.P. Morgan Chase; and Kenneth M. Lynch from UBS Paine Webber.

"Our initiative to improve client focus on our trading floor continues to move forward," said Thomas M. Joyce, Chief Executive Officer and President of Knight Trading Group. "Each of these experienced and well-rounded team members bears the qualities we're instilling in the Knight of the future. We're pleased that Knight's new management team and new philosophy, backed by Knight's prodigious assets, represent an attractive opportunity for stellar industry talent."

"Knight has hired personnel with deep and varied experience from among the best equity firms in the business, continuing our pattern of hiring smart, skilled people," said Glenn T. Callen, Senior Vice President and Head of Cash Equity Trading for Knight Trading Group. "During this weakened market, strengthening our team is paramount. Our new hires complement Knight's already strong cash equity trading staff, helping to better attract and serve the institutional market."

Knight is the liquidity center that offers superior execution services to its broker-dealer and institutional clients in over-the-counter (OTC) and listed equity securities, and in equity options. In so doing, Knight helps its clients meet their fiduciary obligation of obtaining best execution for the securities orders that they route on behalf of their customers. Knight also maintains an asset management business for institutions and high net worth individuals through Deephaven Capital Management LLC.

Knight has the power to commit capital for market orders and also maintains one of the largest limit order books in the OTC market. The Company has approximately 1,034 employees worldwide and is one of the largest destinations for stock orders placed via the Internet. Knight traded 135 billion shares in the year 2001, a volume behind only those posted by Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). More information about Knight can be obtained from the Company's Web site at http://www.knighttradinggroup.com.

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Since such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of the Company may turn out to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made herein; however, readers should carefully review reports or documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[Biographies follow]

Christopher P. Sula
Senior Vice President, Co-Head of Nasdaq Trading
Knight Securities, L.P.

Christopher P. Sula, 34, joined Knight after eight years at Merrill Lynch & Co. where he was a Director of Nasdaq Trading. Most recently, he managed the software, telecom and Internet sectors for Merrill Lynch in Jersey City and played an integral role in the consolidation of Herzog Heine Geduld into the firm. Previously, he was a Corporate Management Associate for Equity Office Properties, Inc. and an Institutional Trust Department Administrator for Harris Trust & Savings Bank, both in Chicago. Chris has a BSBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

John P. Buckley
Senior Trader
Knight Securities, L.P.

John P. Buckley, 36, was a Vice President of OTC Trading at Goldman Sachs before joining Knight. Prior to his work for Goldman Sachs, John spent more than 10 years with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg. Most recently, he was a Director with responsibilities for running day-to-day trading operations and managed the trading of top-tier stocks. John received a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.

Christopher J. Conefry
Senior Trader
Knight Securities, L.P.

Christopher J. Conefry, 32, spent eight-plus years with Salomon Smith Barney where he was a Vice President and Senior Trader. Chris built an expertise in Healthcare/Biotech equity securities and was responsible for approximately 150 stocks in the sector. He also developed and managed strong relationships with the firm's buy-side clients. During his tenure, Salomon Smith Barney ranked number one in institutional volume in most large-cap biotech securities. Chris has a B.A. in Political Science from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Mark D. Crossman
Senior Trader
Knight Securities, L.P.

Mark D. Crossman, 44, built his international trading expertise overseas and in the U.S., most recently as a Principal in the International Sales and Trading operation of J.P. Morgan Chase. He also was Head of International Trading for Chase Fleming Inc. and its predecessor, Robert Fleming Inc. Mark started his financial services career in England with National Westminster Bank and spent fourteen years with the firm and its multiple entities. Prior to leaving for Robert Fleming he was Principal of Pan-European ADR Trading for BTAlex Brown, formerly NatWest Markets in New York. He also was Associate Director of UK Trading for NatWest Markets in London and Associate Director of Trading and Sales for National Westminster Bank in Tokyo, among other trading positions with the bank. He attended Bishops Stortford Boys College in Hertfordshire, England. Mark was a member of the Bishops Stortford Rugby Club and Team Captain of the NatWest Rugby Club, and he remained a regular player of the sport throughout his career.

Steven T. Duca
Senior Trader
Knight Securities, L.P.

Steven T. Duca, 31, has spent nearly a decade in Nasdaq trading and market making. Most recently, Steven was a Senior Market Maker at J.P. Morgan Chase. His primary focus was in the Semiconductor and Capital Equipment Sector, and his responsibilities included trading Nasdaq 100 stocks and managing relationships with buy-side accounts, research analysts and sales traders. Steven started his career at Paine Webber as a Nasdaq Market Maker. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Adelphia University in Garden City, New York.

Kenneth M. Lynch
Senior Trader
Knight Securities, L.P.

Kenneth M. Lynch, 55, has been in the equity trading business nearly three decades, almost entirely at Paine Webber and, following its acquisition, UBS Paine Webber. Most recently, Ken was a Senior Vice President and Principal Nasdaq Institutional Trader whose sectors included bio, information service and other technology areas. Previously at Paine Webber, he was 19C3 Securities Equity Trading Manager; Senior Trader and Co-Manager in the Convertible Bond Department; Manager and Senior Trader of a proprietary Equity Risk Arbitrage Account; and a NYSE floor broker representing the firm. Ken holds a B.S. in Economics and M.B.A. in Finance from St. John's University in Queens, New York, and M.S. in Psychology from New York University, New York City. SOURCE Knight Trading Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Margaret Wyrwas, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, +1-201-557-6954, or mwyrwas@knighttrading.com; or Kara Fitzsimmons, Manager, Corporate Communications, +1-201-356-1523, or kfitzsimmons@knighttrading.com; or Judy Pirro, Manager, Investor and Shareholder Relations, +1-201-356-1548, or jpirro@knighttrading.com, all of Knight Trading Group, Inc.