Mississauga, Ont.-based Excel Funds Management Inc. announced on Tuesday that Greg Placidi has been appointed to the role of senior portfolio manager at its subsidiary, Excel Investment Counsel Inc. (EIC).

In his new role, Placidi will act as co-manager of the recently launched Excel Billionaire Leaders Fund, which invests primarily in companies owned by billionaires. He will also co-manage Excel Blue Chip Balanced Fund, which invests in the equities of well established and financially sound global companies that derive a portion of their revenue from emerging markets.

See: Excel launches billionaires fund

“I am excited to join the Excel team, which focuses on managing innovative emerging-market products, the fastest-growing asset class,” says Placidi in a statement. “I am optimistic about meeting and exceeding the high expectations of EIC as well as its investors.”

Placidi has more than 25 years of global financial services experience. He was most recently chief investment officer and portfolio manager with Moncton-based Wyverstone Capital, which is associated with Montreal-based Industrial Alliance Securities Inc. Placidi also spent 11 years at Burlington, Ont.-based Portland Investment Counsel Inc., at which he managed more than $1 billon in North American, global and EAFE (Europe, Australasia and Far East) growth and dividend portfolios.