Jim Hunter, former head of Mackenzie Financial Corp. and founder of NexGen Financial, has died.

According to an obituary published on Monday, Hunter, 63, passed away on Feb. 18, after a seven-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He leaves behind his wife, Heather, three daughters and a granddaughter.

Hunter spent 16 years at Deloitte & Touche before joining Mackenzie in 1992 as chief financial officer. He became president and CEO of the firm in 1997, until he retired from the company in 2004. In 2005, he started NexGen Financial.

Hunter was diagnosed with ALS in 2009, and subsequently started The James Hunter Family ALS Initiative to raise research funds.

A visitation will be held on Feb. 25 in Toronto, and a funeral on Feb. 26, also in Toronto.