The Investment Counsel Association of Canada has named F. Gwyer Moore as the organization’s new full-time president effective May 1 and pledged to boost its lobbying efforts.

Moore replaces Keith Douglas, who is retiring after 13 years as ICAC’s executive director.

“Keith Douglas has been instrumental in ICAC’s growth from a $40-billion regional association in Toronto to a national professional organization with more than 75 member firms representing in excess of $500 billion in assets, and in building the foundation for our increased efforts in future,” ICAC chairman Richard L. Knowles said in a statement. “His dedication to our industry has earned the gratitude of all ICAC members. We wish him well in his retirement.”

Knowles said the appointment of a full-time president will allow the ICAC to step up its efforts to encourage discussions and shape the policy that affects Canadian investors. “We are indeed fortunate to have found a respected and experienced investment professional such as Gwyer Moore to provide ICAC the ongoing leadership we need during our next phase of growth, to handle the needs of our members, and to represent their interests.”

Moore has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as senior vice president of Guardian Capital Group Limited. His previous executive positions include president, Deacon Capital Corp.; president, BZW Canada Limited; and executive vice president, Burns Fry Ltd. He has also served as governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange and a member of the Board of the Investment Dealers Association. Moore is a registered portfolio manager and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Moore and ICAC staff will be located in ICAC’s new offices at 110 Yonge St. (Suite 1602), Toronto, Ontario M5C 1T4. ICAC’s current telephone and fax numbers remain the same.

The ICAC represents investment counsel and portfolio management firms in Canada. The association’s 75 member firms manage in aggregate more than $500 billion in assets for more than one million institutional and high net worth investors. ICAC represents the views of the investment counsel industry with Canadian securities regulators and other government agencies.