The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), the global representative of alternative investment managers, has appointed Claire Van Wyk-Allan as its new Head of Canada. 

Ms Van Wyk-Allan, who takes over on April 2nd, joins AIMA from RBC Global Asset Management, where she served as Business Development Manager, Advisor Channel Sales. Prior to joining RBC in 2013, she worked for Arrow Capital Management, where she spent almost four years as Regional Manager, covering advisors across Ontario.

She has been an active member of AIMA for almost a decade, including serving as a member of the AIMA Canada board since 2014.  She has also been a two-time Co-Chair for Help for Children’s Hedge Funds Care Canada Gala. 

Ms Van Wyk-Allan graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies, specialising in finance, and is a CAIA Charterholder. At AIMA, she succeeds James Burron, who left AIMA in January. 

The Chair of AIMA Canada, Michael Burns of law firm McMillan LLP, said: “I am delighted that Claire will be joining AIMA in Canada. She has already made a tremendous contribution to the Canadian alternatives industry over many years and we are confident that she will be a strong resource for our members across Canada. 

“Claire brings with her not just a strong knowledge of AIMA Canada, but also asset management sales and retail investor distribution experience, having worked at both RBC Global Asset Management and Arrow Capital. She will have the full support of AIMA’s team in New York, London and Asia-Pacific to ensure that the priorities of our Canadian members are reflected in our local and global agenda.”

Ms Van Wyk-Allan said: “I am excited to be joining AIMA in Canada. The organisation has made considerable strides in Canada in recent years, in terms of growing its events and membership and building a highly effective advocacy and educational programme. I look forward to building on those activities going forward. My first objective will be to meet with members across Canada to ensure their priorities are reflected in our agenda.”