Michael Butler, the founder of Northwest Mutual Funds, is stepping down from his role as president and chief operating officer, Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. said Friday.

While he is relinquishing his operating responsibilities effective January 31, Butler will continue to serve as member of Northwest & Ethical’s investment committee.

“I am tremendously proud of the role that I have been able to play in the success of the company since the day I started Northwest Mutual Funds in 1997 through to our recent merger with The Ethical Funds Company, which has created Canada’s 18th largest mutual fund company,” stated Butler.

Butler said he plans to devote time developing some of his other business investments, as well as doing some guest lecturing and giving back to the community.

Following graduation from the University of Toronto in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree specializing in Economics and Political Science, Butler has held various sales, marketing and executive positions within the Canadian financial services industry prior to founding Northwest Mutual Funds in 1997.

In addition, he is a past director and former member of the audit committee of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada.

IE