Beth Hamilton-Keen, CFA, Elected Chair of CFA Institute Board of Governors

Hamilton-Keen leads 19-member Board that aims to build professionalism in investment management

TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Beth Hamilton-Keen, CFA, has been elected the new chair of the Board of Governors of CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that promotes the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence. Effective Sept. 1, Hamilton-Keen succeeds Aaron Low, CFA, who will continue to serve on the Board as immediate past chair. The new lineup of the Board, the highest governing authority of CFA Institute, was elected by the membership at the CFA Institute 68^th Annual Conference in April.

"Beth has a long history with CFA Institute, from leading the local Calgary society, to grading exams, to playing an integral role on our councils and committees," said Paul Smith, CFA, president and CEO of CFA Institute. "As our profession evolves, CFA Institute will continue its work to build trustand embrace the responsibility to act ethically with prudence and care in the best interest of our clients. With a wealth of experience in the investment management industry on which to draw, I have every confidence that Beth and the Board she leads will support and guide us in this mission."  

Hamilton-Keen is a director of investment counselling at Mawer Investment Management Ltd., where she advises and manages portfolios for private client and family office clients. During a career that spans more than two decades, Hamilton-Keen has worked for CIBC, TAL Private Investment Counsel, and CIBC Private Investment Counsel. For the past 15 years, she has been an active volunteer and engaged CFA Institute member; in addition, she was previously the chair of the External Relations and Volunteer Involvement Committee, a director and president for CFA Society Calgary, a Presidents Council Representative for Canada, a member of the Private Wealth Advisory Council, and a CFA exam grader. Hamilton-Keen is an active member of her local community and had been recognized as one of Calgary's "Top 40 Under 40." She is a graduate of the Acadia University business program.

"Every day, our members are in a position to impact the welfare of families, the success of businesses, the health of communities, and the economies of countries," said Hamilton-Keen. "The typical investor does not realize this so we need to raise public awareness concerning the positive impact investment management professionals can have on society. The sustainability of our profession is dependent on changing investors' perceptions of both the work we do and the beneficial role we can serve. As chair, this aspiration is part of my vision. I look forward to working with you on this and many other initiatives."

In addition to Hamilton-Keen's appointment, CFA Institute elected Frederic P. Lebel, CFA, as vice chair of the Board. Lebel is co-CEO and CIO of OFI MGA and owner of HFS Hedge Fund Selection S.A., based in Geneva. He is a past recipient of the CFA Institute Leadership in Professional Ethics and Standards of Investment Award, in honor of Daniel J. Forrestal III, and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance and accounting from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Board of Governors Roster

The CFA Institute Board of Governors is comprised of a diverse group of 19 members who reside in the following 10 countries: Australia, Canada, China, India, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. Each governor is elected by the CFA Institute membership for a three-year term that runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. The full slate of board members is:

• Beth Hamilton-Keen, CFA, (Canada), Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
• Frederic P. Lebel, CFA, (Switzerland), OFI MGA and HFS Hedge Fund Selection S.A.
• Giuseppe Ballocchi, CFA, (Switzerland,) University of Lausanne
• Heather Brilliant, CFA, (Australia), Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd.
• Daniel Gamba*, CFA, (United States), BlackRock, Inc.
• Robert Jenkins, FSIP, (United Kingdom), London Business School
• James G. Jones, CFA, (United States), Sterling Investment Advisors, LLC
• Attila Koksal, CFA, (Turkey), Unlu Securities
• Mark Lazberger, CFA, (Australia), Colonial First State Global Asset Management (CFSGAM)
• Aaron Low, CFA, (Singapore), Lumen Advisors
• Colin McLean, FSIP, (United Kingdom), SVM Asset Management Ltd.
• Scott Proctor, CFA, (United States), Capital One
• Sunil Singhania, CFA, (India), Reliance Capital Asset Management Ltd.
• Paul Smith, CFA, (Hong Kong), CFA Institute
• George Spentzos*, CFA, FSIP (United Kingdom)
• Lynn Stout (United States), Cornell Law School
• Zouheir Tamim El Jarkass*, CFA, (United Arab Emirates), Mubadala
• Michael G. Trotsky, CFA, (United States), Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management ("PRIM") Board
• Hua Yu, CFA, (China), Morgan Stanley Huaxin Fund Management Company Ltd.

*New incoming governors for the fiscal year commencing Sept. 1, 2015

About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behaviour in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors' interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has nearly 133,000 members in 151 countries and territories, including 125,400 CFA charterholders, and 145 member societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.

SOURCE CFA Institute

Jannine Rane, FleishmanHillard, 416-645-3662, [email protected]; J.D. McCartney, CFA Institute, New York, [phone], [email protected]