Industry moves this week

Each week, we summarize notable moves across the financial industry.

• Michelle Connolly has joined Raymond James Ltd. as head of financial planning and insurance solutions. Her direct colleagues, according to her announcement, will include financial planning leaders Jennifer Hodgson and Sami Nathoo, vice-president of tax consulting Debbie Wong and vice-president and head of insurance Scott MacMillan. Connolly was most recently senior vice-president of advanced wealth planning with Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. for nearly four years and her career has spanned more than 20 years.
• Alex Lee is now head of Canada ETF product strategy with Franklin Templeton (part of Franklin Resources Inc.). He was promoted to the role, having been with the company since January 2022. His appointment follows the departure earlier this year of Brad Gerster, who was head of product, Americas, for four years before moving to BMO Global Asset Management. Franklin Templeton said in an emailed statement that it’s in the process of hiring an overall lead product strategy role for Canada. Franklin Templeton Canada also adjusted its leadership team within the past year, after former president and CEO Duane Green left the organization. The company told Investment Executive that “long-tenured senior leaders” were promoted in Green’s stead as part of a broad effort to best serve clients and leverage those people’s investment expertise. Alongside Andrew Ashton and Dennis Tew getting expanded responsibilities in late 2023, Liz Bouthillier also was promoted (becoming head of retail sales) at the beginning of this year.
• Advisor team Broadley and Associates, led by investment advisors Rebecca Broadley and Preston Howell, has joined the Calgary office of Richardson Wealth Ltd. The group manages nearly $400 million, a release said, and its addition in Calgary means the firm has 29 teams managing nearly $9 billion in client assets in that office. Broadley, who’s been an advisor for more than 20 years, said in the release that the team chose Richardson Wealth in part for its “significant investments” aimed at supporting advisors and clients. Broadley and Preston, who’s been an advisor for more than 15 years, both came from BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
• Nezihe Aquino, who formerly worked with Vancity Community Investment Bank for 17 years and across multiple senior roles, will become chief operating officer (COO) with Global Risk Institute as of Sept. 3. She will depart Vancity on June 28, she said in an announcement. Vanda Vicars has been GRI’s COO since 2019 and her career spans four decades.

If you know of other people moves in the financial industry and/or would like us to consider your announcement, email Katie Keir at katie@newcom.ca.