Jerry Javasky, head of Mackenzie’s Ivy investment team, plans to transition from team lead to an advisory role with the intention to retire from the investment business, Mackenzie Financial Corp. said Wendesday.

Paul Musson, sr. vp, Mackenzie, his hand-chosen successor and co-manager with Javasky on many of the Ivy fund mandates, will take on the role of Ivy team lead in February.

Javasky will remain active in the firm until the end of March to ensure a seamless leadership transition and will be available to the team in an advisory and consultative role into the future, Mackenzie said. He will remain an investor in the Ivy funds.

“We have been preparing for this day within the Ivy family by building a talented team of like-minded managers over the past decade” said Javasky, in a release. “Each member of the team is dedicated to preserving those attributes that define the Ivy investment style.”

Javasky joined Mackenzie in 1992. During his tenure, the Ivy Funds have shown consistent superior risk-adjusted performance through the diligent application of the Ivy investment process. “The capacity of the Ivy team to preserve investor capital was put to the test in 2008, and by most people’s definition they have passed that test extremely well.” said David Feather, President, Mackenzie Financial Services Inc.

Since 1997, Javasky has built an team that includes:

> Paul Musson, who joined the Ivy team in February 2000 and has 14 years investment experience;

> Stephanie Griffiths, who joined in May 1997, and has 13 years of investment experience;

> David Arpin, who joined in July 2000 and has 13 years of investment experience

> Abe Gottesman, CFA, who joined in July 2001 with five years of previous financial experience, and

> Matt Moody who joined in November 2005, with four years of financial experience.

The Ivy Funds include: Mackenzie Ivy Canadian Fund; Mackenzie Ivy Canadian Class; Mackenzie Ivy Growth & Income Fund; Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity Fund; Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity Class; Mackenzie Ivy Global Balanced; Mackenzie Ivy American Class; Mackenzie Focus Class; Mackenzie Focus Canada Fund; Mackenzie Focus Canada Class; and Mackenzie Focus International Class.

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