CI Global Asset Management (CI GAM) has appointed Marc-André Lewis executive vice-president and head of investment management, the Toronto-based firm announced Wednesday. Lewis starts in the position Sept. 1, 2021.

Lewis joins CI GAM from sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), where he was head of portfolio construction. In the role, his responsibilities included strategic asset allocation, quantitative research and alternative indexing activities. He also sat on the executive committee and tactical asset allocation committee for the fund’s strategy and planning department.

“Marc-André’s expertise and leadership experience gained at one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated investment organizations will help drive this next stage of CI GAM’s growth and development,” said Kurt MacAlpine, CEO of CI Financial, parent company of CI GAM, in a release.

Lewis, who is relocating from Abu Dhabi to Toronto for the new role, will be CI GAM’s first-ever head of investment management. In November 2020, CI Financial said it would be combining its in-house investment boutiques and operating as one integrated platform under the CI GAM brand. In his new role, Lewis will oversee the continued development of the platform and lead more than 100 investment professionals.

“[Lewis’s appointment] is a critical step in the transformation of CI GAM from a multi-boutique investment model to an integrated global investment manager,” MacAlpine said.

Prior to joining ADIA, Lewis was senior vice-president and deputy chief risk officer at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, where he led a team that analyzed and monitored the risks of both public and private investments. He was also a member of the Caisse’s asset allocation committee.

In the release, CI GAM also announced a number of portfolio management appointments in response to decisions by Eric Bushell and Robert Lyon to retire from investment management. The moves had been planned for some time and were unrelated to the appointment of Lewis, the firm said.

Bushell has served as CIO of CI GAM’s Signature investment team since 2002, after joining CI Financial in 1999 as part of an acquisition. Lyon most recently served as Signature’s head of equities, and has worked at CI GAM since 2015, when he rejoined the firm after a previous stint.

MacAlpine thanked both Bushell, who remains with the firm until July 5 to help with the transition, and Lyon “for their many years of service and for their thoughtfulness in planning an orderly succession.”

New lead portfolio manager assignments for the affected CI GAM investment funds are effective June 10, 2021.