The Investment Dealers Association of Canada has appointed Susan Wolburgh Jenah as president and CEO of the IDA, effective July 1.

Wolburgh Jenah comes to the IDA from the Ontario Securities Commission where she was vice chairwoman from 2004 to 2007.

As a member of the OSC executive committee she participated in setting priorities, overseeing Commission operations and leading policy initiatives. Wolburgh Jenah served as a member of the board of directors and chaired adjudicative panels relating to enforcement proceedings, regulatory policy matters and appeals of decisions of recognized self-regulatory organizations. As vice-chairwoman, she was actively involved in the international arena and represented the OSC on international committees of the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the Council of Securities Regulators of the Americas.

Wolburgh Jenah was acting chairwoman of the OSC from July to November 2005. Prior to her appointment as vice chairwoman, Wolburgh Jenah was general counsel and director of international affairs. In addition to leading many legislative and policy initiatives, she served as a member of the Ontario government’s Five-Year Legislative Review Committee, which issued a comprehensive set of recommendations in May 2003, many of which have since been adopted.

Jenah Wolburgh is also the recently appointed president and CEO of the new self-regulatory organization, which will result from the proposed merger of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Market Regulation Services Inc. Her appointment as president and CEO of the new SRO will take effect once the proposed new organization begins operations.

“Susan brings extensive regulatory experience, a deep understanding of the Canadian and international securities industry and capital markets, and a strong commitment to investor protection to her new role”, said IDA Chairman Ron Lloyd.

Wolburgh Jenah has a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1982. In June 2004, she graduated from the inaugural Director’s Education Program offered by the Rotman School of Business and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and holds an ICD.D designation.

She served as a director on the OSC’s Investor Education Fund (2004-2006) and as the Canadian Securities Administrators’ (CSA) representative on Canada’s Accounting Standards Oversight Council (2004-2007). She currently serves on the following not-for-profit boards and advisory committees: the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Audit and Finance Committee of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the National Steering Committee on Financial Capability and the Dean’s Advisory Council for Osgoode Hall Law School.