VenGrowth Capital Partners Inc. today announced the appointment of Ian McPherson to lead its new structured products division, Criterion Investments.

As president of structured products, Ian will be responsible for developing and bringing to market structured product issues under the Criterion brand.

Retail structured investment products, which typically offer new asset classes, enhanced yield, tax efficiency or capital protection, stand to play a significant role in the expansion of VenGrowth’s alternative investments strategy. VenGrowth’s first structured product offering is likely to be issued this fall.

McPherson joins VenGrowth following a successful career as a senior investment banker with National Bank Financial where he led the corporate finance practice for financial services companies for close to a decade and the retail structured products unit for seven years.

McPherson has been responsible for many innovations in the Canadian investment banking and structured products industry, including: the first income trust in the financial services sector, the first rated income trust and the first exchange offer for income trusts.

“VenGrowth is a market leader in the alternative asset sector and I’m excited to be joining a firm committed to playing a leading role in the growing Canadian structured products market,” said McPherson in a release. “Criterion will build on VenGrowth’s reputation for products that put investor interests first by bringing structured products to market that are efficient, creative, reliable and offer added value for investors.”

VenGrowth believes the alternative investment market will continue to grow as financial advisors and investors look beyond more traditional vehicles like mutual funds for superior growth, income and protection.

“Ian’s appointment to lead our new structured products division — Criterion — is an important milestone in VenGrowth’s strategy to be the preeminent Canadian alternative investment manager,” said David Ferguson, VenGrowth Managing General Partner. “VenGrowth has consistently demonstrated that whenever we add a new investment discipline, we hire the best in the industry. Ian is no exception.”

Last year VenGrowth appointed “mezzanine finance” expert Graham McBride to head a new division focused on debt financing opportunities with established Canadian companies in the manufacturing and services sectors.

VenGrowth, with over $1 billion in assets under management, offers retail investors a diversified platform of labour sponsored investment funds.