Each week, we summarize notable moves across the financial industry.
- Chris Heakes has joined the newly formed VanEck Canada as managing director, investments, leaving Harvest ETFs after more than a year as a senior portfolio manager. He previously spent more than 13 years with BMO Global Asset Management in various roles, including portfolio manager, BMO ETFs, and head of disciplined equities. Danielle Neziol has also joined the firm as director of digital distribution and product strategy. She was previously with BMO Global Asset Management for more than eight years, including as vice-president (VP) of ETF online distribution. VanEck announced its expansion into Canada in April, making its first hire with Kevin Gopaul as CEO of its Canadian operations.
- Darren Luck and Stephanie Senteris have joined Wellington-Altus as senior wealth advisors. Luck, a portfolio manager, departed from CIBC Wood Gundy after 35 years, and Senteris, an associate portfolio manager, after more than 14 years.
- Devendra Sharma, a financial planner and tax advisor and principal of Prudent Asset Management Inc. for 25 years, is joining Designed Wealth Management as a financial planner.
- Kevin Haynes has joined CI Global Asset Management as VP, ETF Strategy, leaving Invesco Canada after 16 years. Haynes served in multiple ETF product development and strategic initiatives roles at his previous firm, including as director and head of ETF product development and strategy for Canada.
- Stephan Dieujuste has been appointed VP of sales at Purpose Investments. He was previously district VP with Manulife Investment Management for 15 years, and has held sales roles with Standard Life and AGF Funds.
- Emma Crilly has been named VP of investment solutions with Willoughby Asset Management, part of the Harbourfront Group of Companies. She brings seven years of experience in various business development roles with Fidelity Canada.
- Jamaica Zarchekoff has joined AGF Capital Partners as a principal, wealth solutions, where she’ll focus on supporting advisors and high-net worth investors’ access to alternative investment solutions. She was previously with Invico Capital Corp. for more than six years in sales and development roles, including as regional VP of sales.
- Connor Kitchen will be joining Forthlane Partners Ltd. as a senior client advisor, leaving investment management firm Waratah Capital Advisors Ltd. after two years in senior roles, including as director. He brings experience serving high-net-worth and institutional clients as an associate portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and in a client wealth management role at Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.
- EQB has announced a combined leadership team ahead of the expected closure of its acquisition of PC Financial on July 1. Among the PC Financial execs joining EQB are chief financial officer Ian Hanning, who will become senior vice-president (SVP), credit cards and loyalty; SVP, credit risk and data analytics, Mark Snyder, who will assume the same role at EQB; and VP, digital products, platforms and growth, Michaela Garfield, who will be SVP, customer growth and experience, personal banking. The full list of appointments, plus expanded mandates for existing EQB leaders, is available here.
- Josée Turcotte is returning to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI). She previously served as executive director, emerging risk operations with the regulator for one year, ending in fall 2024 when she was hired as executive VP, chief operating officer and chief of staff at the Ontario Securities Commission. She begins her new role at OSFI as deputy superintendent, integrity, national security and integrated solutions on Sept. 8, succeeding Kathy Thompson, who is retiring. Laurence Frappier has been named chief actuary, effective Oct. 1. She’s currently managing director at the regulator’s Office of the Chief Actuary, which she joined in 2011. Frappier will succeed Assia Billig, who’s also retiring. Billig has held the role since 2019, and first joined the Office of the Actuary in 2008.
- Peggy Coady has been appointed to FP Canada’s board of directors, bringing three decades of experience in academia and chartered accountant and chartered professional accountant education, as well as governance experience. She’s an associate professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Nira Sivakumar will be leaving the board after completing a three-year term as director this year.
In memoriam
- Craig Baun, a senior portfolio manager and investment advisor, and executive vice-president at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, has died at age 56. The Calgary-based wealth advisor spent more than two decades with CIBC Wood Gundy, where he also served as first VP, before moving to Wellington-Altus in late 2019. A LinkedIn post by the firm said he was “known for his integrity, humility, and commitment to putting people first.”
If you know of other people moves in the financial industry and/or would like us to consider your announcement, email Alisha Hiyate at alisha.h@newcom.ca.