David Rosenberg, one of North America’s leading economists, will be joining Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc. as chief economist and strategist, the wealth management firm said Tuesday.

Rosenberg was one of the first economists to warn of a U.S. housing market collapse and the ensuing consumer and financial market meltdown. He is currently managing director, chief North American economist of Bank of America and formerly chief North American economist of Merrill Lynch. Rosenberg will start work with Gluskin Sheff in May.

He will report to Bill Webb, the company’s deputy chief investment officer.

“We are thrilled to add someone of David’s calibre, strategic ability and global understanding to our team,” said Jeremy Freedman, deputy CEO, in a release. “We see this as a terrific marriage of our long-term track record of successfully identifying undervalued individual securities with David’s proven ability to analyze and foresee global trends and opportunities. The insight that he will provide to our investment and asset mix teams will bring strong added value to our clients.”

Rosenberg has ranked first in economics in the Brendan Wood International Survey for Canada for the past seven years and was on the Institutional Investors All American All Star Team for the last four years. He ranked second overall in the 2008 Survey.

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he held senior positions at the Bank of Canada, BMO Nesbitt Burns and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

IE