![People Watch: On the move in May](https://www.benefitscanada.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2015/05/CraigAlexander.jpg)
TD chief economist Craig Alexander (pictured) is leaving to join the C.D. Howe Institute. He’ll take on the role of vice-president, economic analysis on Sept. 14, 2015.
Liza Bugar and Ross Gibson have joined ICBA Benefit Services as group benefits consultants. Bugar has 17 years of experience in the industry and Gibson has 24 years of experience.
Laura DeVries has joined McCarthy Tétrault’s labour and employment group in Vancouver as an associate. Prior to joining the firm in November 2014, she clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada for Justice Andromache Karakatsanis. DeVries received her law degree from the University of British Columbia in 2013.
Paul Gillis is the new president and CEO of Union Benefits. He has more than 30 years of financial, pension and benefits experience, including 14 years working with a leading Canadian life insurance company and five years working as a senior pension and investment consultant with Toronto-based investment management firm.
SSQ Financial Group CEO René Hamel plans to retire by the end of the year. He joined the company in 1986 and has served as CEO for the last seven years. SSQ has begun searching for his replacement.
BNY Mellon has appointed Donald J. Heberle to be the new CEO of BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He will succeed current CEO Lawrence Hughes, who has decided to retire from his role as of June 30, 2015.
James A.C. Kennedy, CEO of T. Rowe Price, has decided to retire in 2016 after a 38-year career with the firm. William J. Stromberg, a 28-year veteran of the company who is currently head of global equity and global equity research, will succeed him.
CIBC Mellon’s David Linds will be retiring from his role as senior vice-president, business development and relationship management on July 1. He’s been with the company since inception, and has led CIBC Mellon’s sales and relationship management functions for more than a decade. The company also announced that Rob Ferguson has been appointed senior vice-president, capital markets, business development and relationship management and that Richard Anton has been appointed senior vice-president and chief operations officer. Both appointments are effective July 1.
Allan Maclean-Howard has joined Signature Global Asset Management as vice-president, asset allocation and risk management. He joins joins Signature from Merrill Lynch where he was responsible for Merrill’s institutional equity derivatives business for Canadian clients.
Jamie Martin is now at People Corporation as a consultant in its group retirement solutions division. He has 18 years of experience in the group retirement industry and was most recently at Standard Life.
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has promoted Jennifer Newman to the new role of senior vice-president, enterprise services, and Alyssa van Graft to the new role of vice-president, strategic planning and business management. Newman joined Teachers’ in 2009 and was most recently vice-president, financial operations and data management. And van Graft joined Teachers’ in 2011 and was most recently director, strategy in Teachers’ enterprise project management office.
Desjardins Insurance has appointed François Joseph Poirier to the position of vice-president, business development, group and business insurance. He has more than 20 years of experience and was most recently at Mercer.
Brian Reynolds has joined Hansell Consulting Group as a principal. He has previously worked for The Williamson Group, BHH Benefits and John Hancock Life Insurance.
Colin Ripsman has joined Foyston, Gordon & Payne Inc. (FGP) as vice-president, institutional client services. He has almost 25 years of investment experience gleaned from senior roles with several leading national consulting and investment firms. Ripsman was most recently with Eckler Ltd.
AIG has appointed Brian T. Schreiber to take on the newly created role of executive vice-president and chief strategy officer. He’s been with the company for 18 years, most recently as deputy chief investment officer.
Cheryl Stargratt has joined Tangerine in the newly created role of chief people officer. She has human resources experience from a wide variety of companies, including BD, Virgin Mobile Canada and Nike.
BMO Global Asset Management has appointed Normand Vachon to the position of vice-president, institutional sales and service. He previously worked at TD Asset Management.
Mark Wisniewski has joined Sprott Asset Management as a senior portfolio manager. He has more than 30 years of investment industry experience in fixed income. Wisniewski previously worked at Davis Rea.
For more industry moves and appointment notices, check out People Watch.