After 14 years of leading the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA), Larry Waite, the MFDA’s first CEO, has handed over the reins to his longtime deputy, Mark Gordon.
Although he left the office for the final time last week, the MFDA board formally announced Waite’s retirement as president and CEO on Thursday.
Waite joined the MFDA as its first employee on October 1, 1998, becoming chief operating officer. He was appointed president and CEO in 2003.
Prior to joining the MFDA, Waite served as head of enforcement at the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).
Waite announced his plans to retire earlier this year. In June, after an executive search, the association’s board appointed Gordon, who was executive vice president at the MFDA, as his successor.
MFDA names new president and CEO
Rod McLeod, chair of the MFDA board, noted that Waite has, “guided the MFDA through three strategic plans and, in doing so, has established a national self-regulatory organization whose standards of regulation are second to none. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his work on behalf of the investing public, member firms and the Canadian capital markets.”
McLeod also praised the SRO’s new CEO, saying, “Mark’s extensive securities and regulatory experience, gained through more than 25 years of working at the MFDA, the Ontario Securities Commission and in private practice, will help ensure the MFDA continues to fulfill its investor protection mandate, as well as continue to play a leading role in the ever evolving Canadian securities regulatory landscape.”
“The board is confident that Mark has the vision and skills necessary to successfully lead the organization into the next phase of its evolution as set out in the 2012-2014 strategic plan,” he added.