The Association of Canadian Compliance Professionals has announced its new board of directors for 2010.

The board is headed by co-vice chairs, Manny DaSilva of Canfin Financial Group, and Gary Legault of IPG Investment Corp.

The other members are:

• Cheryl Hamilton, MGI Financial Inc., secretary;
• Novlette Simpson, B2B Trust, treasurer;
• Darlene Barker, Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc., B.C. chapter co-director;
• Martha Kane, Credential Asset Management, B.C. chapter co-director;
• Donna Dawson, ATB Investment Services Inc., Alberta chapter director;
• Carol Krienke, Partners in Planning, Saskatchewan chapter director;
• Chris Hall, Credential Asset Management Inc., Manitoba chapter co-director
• Sandra Shibata, Investors Group Financial, Manitoba chapter co-director;
• Pierre Saint-Laurent, Asset Counsel Inc., Quebec chapter director;
• Jeff Jackson, Monarch Wealth Corp., general officer; and
• Richard Austin, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, general officer.

The ACCP says the new board will tackle new challenges in 2010. Of all areas in financial services, the distribution of mutual funds constitutes the most compliance-intensive. Financial planners across Canada must ensure that they comply with multiple rules and regulations, designed to ensure that investors obtain portfolios that are suitable, that records show the true nature of investments, and that clients are treated fairly and knowledgeably.

The ACCP says the new board will increase its dialogue with ACCP members, will promote up-to-date best practices and will reach out to regulatory bodies across Canada to help its members attain best-in-class compliance. Importantly, the ACCP will track, respond and upgrade to regulatory developments as they occur.

With the pace of regulatory change increasing, the ACCP says it ACCP will spearhead consultations with its members to generate meaningful and useful interaction with regulators across the land.

Founded in 2000, the Association of Canadian Compliance Professionals (“ACCP”) represents compliance officers within the mutual fund dealer community.

The ACCP operates chapters in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec and as of November 30, 2009, the ACCP had over 150 compliance professionals as active members across Canada.

IE