President and CEO Susan Wolburgh Jenah to Retire from the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)

Effective October 31, 2014

TORONTO, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - IIROC President and Chief Executive Officer, Susan Wolburgh Jenah, today announced her intention to retire from her position, effective October 31, 2014.

Ms. Wolburgh Jenah was appointed President and CEO of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada (IDA) in June 2007 and was responsible for leading the merger of the IDA and Market Regulation Services Inc. to establish IIROC in 2008.

She has led the national organization through a transformative period for the investment industry, market structure and stakeholder expectations.   During her tenure, the organization developed and implemented important operational and policy reforms to protect investors, strengthen industry standards and enhance market integrity.

Marianne Harris, Chair of the IIROC Board said: "Under Susan's strong and capable leadership IIROC's focus has been on delivering effective and efficient regulation and supervisory oversight. On behalf of the Board, we are deeply appreciative of Susan's leadership and contributions to protecting investors and fostering quality capital markets. She has brought to her role at IIROC over three decades of experience as a regulator, policy-maker and adjudicator and has made an indelible mark on securities regulation in Canada."

"It has been an honour to lead IIROC during this pivotal time and to work with such a talented and dedicated team of professionals. I am proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure and of the strong management team I will leave behind. I am confident that they will continue to execute on the strategic priorities and direction we have established and champion our important work in the public interest," said Ms. Wolburgh Jenah.

Ms. Wolburgh Jenah has focused the organization on enhancing and enforcing industry and proficiency standards, maintaining fair and orderly markets and developing an effective risk-based approach to the regulation and oversight of nearly 200 dealer firms and their 29,000 approved individuals across the country. She has also been a proponent of broader stakeholder engagement, transparency and accountability in order to achieve better regulation and enhanced compliance.

Since inception, IIROC's aim has been to keep pace with the rapid changes in the equity trading environment in the face of ever increasing competition, innovation and technological developments. IIROC successfully launched its Surveillance Technology Enhancement Platform (STEP) in 2010, a unique, multi-market surveillance platform, and has been steadily building post-trade analytical capability to help inform policy making.

The education and engagement of investors have been important priorities under Ms. Wolburgh Jenah's tenure. The organization has created a suite of investor education resources designed to improve financial literacy and help consumers become more informed investors. IIROC has also established partnerships with several investor education and financial literacy organizations.

The Board has constituted a search committee to identify a successor to Ms. Wolburgh Jenah, who will continue to work with the Board and Management to ensure a smooth transition.

IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada. Created in 2008 through the consolidation of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Market Regulation Services Inc., IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while maintaining efficient and competitive capital markets.

IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.

 

Image with caption: "Susan Wolburgh Jenah, IIROC President and CEO (CNW Group/Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140402_C8343_PHOTO_EN_38767.jpg

SOURCE: Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News

For further information:

Lucy Becker
Vice President, Public Affairs
416.943.5870
[e-mail]