Manulife promotes Allard
Manulife Asset Management Canada, the investment arm of Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corp., has named Jacqui Allard as its new president. In addition to acting as global chief operating officer, a position Allard has held since joining MAMC in April 2008, she will oversee Manulife’s asset-management business in Canada, which includes directing its marketing strategy, client-relationship strategy and compliance processes. Before joining MAMC, Allard was senior vice president of Boston-based State Street Corp. from January 2002 to April 2008, at which she oversaw its North American global technology services group.
Lee-Chin at Laurier
Waterloo, Ont.-based Wilfrid Laurier University has named Michael-Lee Chin, chairman of Burlington, Ont.-based Portland Holdings Inc., as its new chancellor, effective Oct. 28. Lee-Chin, who replaces John Pollock, Laurier’s chancellor since March 2008, will join the university’s board of governors and senate, as well as serve on the senate honorary degree committee. He also will preside over graduation ceremonies and award students their degrees and diplomas. Lee-Chin is well known for his philanthropic efforts, such as donating $30 million to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto for its crystal building, known as the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.
Watsa re-elected
The University of Waterloo has re-elected Prem Watsa, chairman and CEO of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., as its chancellor. Having been chancellor since 2009, Watsa will enter his second three-year term on May 1, 2012. As chancellor, Watsa oversees convocation ceremonies as well as acts as a public ambassador for the university. Watsa originally founded Fairfax in 1985 under the name of Markel Financial Holdings Ltd. In 1987, he reorganized the firm and renamed it Fairfax, short for “fair and friendly acquisitions.” Before that, Watsa was vice president of Confederation Life Investment Counsel in Toronto from 1974 to 1983. He then spent a year as vice president of GW Asset Management before co-founding Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (now owned by Fairfax) in 1984.
CCGG’s new head
The Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, a Toronto-based advocacy group that promotes corporate governance, has appointed Stephen Erlichman, partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, as its executive director. Erlichman, the head of Fasken’s investment products and wealth-management practice group, has more than 30 years of experience in practising corporate and securities law in Canada and the U.S. The CCGG represents 47 members — mainly institutional investors such as pension funds, mutual funds and third-party money managers — that manage assets of $2 trillion on behalf of Canadian investors.
Compiled by Olivia Glauberzon
(oglauberzon@investmentexecutive.com).