AIM Trimark Investments today revealed details on the transition of portfolio management responsibilities, following the impending departure of Geoff MacDonald.

Effective today, Don Simpson assumes the primary portfolio management responsibilities for the equity portion of Trimark Income Growth Fund, while Rex Chong will continue to serve as lead manager on the fixed-income portion of the fund. Simpson has over 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining AIM Trimark in 2001, he worked with BayStreetDirect, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) and as a portfolio manager at MCAP. Simpson has been lead manager on the highly successful Trimark Diversified Income Class for nearly three years.

Clayton Zacharias assumes primary portfolio management responsibilities for Trimark Canadian Endeavour Fund. Zacharias has over 13 years of financial services experience and has worked closely with MacDonald for five years, including as his co-manager since December 2005. Mark Uptigrove will join him as a dedicated equity analyst on the fund.

Rory Ronan assumes lead manager role of Trimark Diversified Income Class and Trimark Monthly Income Private Pool. Simpson will continue as co-manager, with further support by equity analyst Lauree Wheatley. The fixed-income team, led by Rex Chong, will remain unchanged. In addition to being a co-manager on these funds for nearly three years, Ronan has been lead manager on Trimark Canadian Resources Fund for over five years.

“Don, Clayton and Rory are three great examples, of many, that show how we’ve successfully built our investment talent from within the Trimark investment team,” says Phil Taylor, senior managing director and head of INVESCO PLC’s North American retail business, including AIM Trimark. “We expect a smooth transition for our investors and their advisors.”

“Geoff MacDonald has been a talented investor and mentor of people at AIM Trimark. While his presence and contribution will be missed, the Trimark investment team has full confidence in the abilities and experience of these lead managers,” says Tye Bousada, lead portfolio manager of Trimark Fund.