September 4, 2024

AIMA Canada, the National Group of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) in Canada formed in 2003, is pleased to announce the formation of the new Executive Committee for the 2024-2026 term.  

Elevating to Chair is Liam O’Sullivan, Co-Head of Client & Product Solutions at RPIA LP, who previously served as Deputy Chair. He succeeds Belle Kaura, Vice President Legal and Chief Compliance Officer at Third Eye Capital following her three celebrated terms as Chair. 

Also joining as Legal Counsel is Sarah Gardiner, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP following her seat as Co-Chair, AIMA Canada Legal Finance and Compliance Committee and succeeding Darin Renton, Partner, Stikeman Elliott LLP, who served four notable terms. 

The AIMA Canada Executive Committee serves to ensure AIMA acts internally and externally as a single and coherent association, true to its global strategic nature, while fostering local member engagement, initiatives and programming. The new Executive Committee, which will serve from September 2024 to August 2026, is as follows: 

• Chair: Liam O’Sullivan, Co-Head of Client & Product Solutions, RPIA 
• Deputy Chair: Peter Boffo, Managing Director, TD Securities 
• Treasurer: Derek Hatoum, Partner, PwC 
• Legal Counsel: Sarah Gardiner, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP 

Members: 

• Bill Tang, Senior Manager, Operational Due Diligence, OMERS 
• Mackenzie Shaw, Principal, Westcourt Capital 
• Jon Vapsva, Executive Director, Investment Funds, CIBC Private Wealth  
• Mark Hannoush, Managing Director, Due Diligence & Advisory, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan 
• Andrew Tyler, Partner & Head of Product, Picton Mahoney Asset Management 
• Lillian Ferndriger, Director, Alternatives Distribution, BMO Global Asset Management 
• Maxime Kimpton, Senior Specialist, Operational Risk Management, Innocap 
• Katrina Rempel, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets 
• Vesna Dragic, Director, Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets 
• Alana Johnston Gould, Director, Prime Services Capital Introduction, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets 
• Mike Tocheri, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, National Bank Independent Network 

The AIMA Canada Executive Committee would like to sincerely thank these outgoing members for their outstanding contributions during their terms of service: 

• Belle Kaura, Vice President Legal and Chief Compliance Officer, Third Eye Capital 
• Darin Renton, Partner, Stikeman Elliott LLP 
• Lloyd Perruzza, VP, National Accounts & Managed Asset, Dynamic Funds 
• Kim Jansen, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets 
• Phil Clark, Head of Marketing, Picton Mahoney Asset Management  
• Chris Farkas, Managing Director, CC&L (formerly at KPMG Canada) 
• Farialle Pacha, Senior Associate, Associate Investment Counsellor, Cidel (formerly at Waratah Capital Advisors) 

In announcing the composition of the new Executive Committee, Liam O’Sullivan, Chair, AIMA Canada, commented: “I am honored to support the wonderful work AIMA does advocating on behalf of the Canadian alternatives industry. I would like to thank the departing committee members for their valuable contributions and also welcome incoming members. The committee members selected for this term represent all facets of the industry and I’m looking forward to working with them all to further AIMA’s impact. The alternatives industry faces a number of challenges and opportunities and against that backdrop, it’s more important than ever that AIMA Canada is there to provide thought leadership, education and advocacy for the industry as a whole.” 

AIMA Canada outgoing Chair Belle Kaura added: “It has been an honour to serve as Chair of AIMA Canada for three terms, as an Executive Committee member for eight years, and on the Global Council to help shape the Canadian alternatives industry and deliver on our mandate to champion and support members in meeting challenges and embracing opportunities. Over this period, AIMA expanded its reach and impact, and the growth of alternatives has been exponential with the democratization of liquid alts, the evolution of private credit to a mainstream asset class, and the development of a Canadian eco-system that supports effective regulatory advocacy, thought leadership, and innovation across alternatives.  Alternatives have a historical track record of delivering resiliency. Looking ahead, private markets have the potential to deliver more competitive, diversified, and risk-adjusted returns as compared to public markets. Bank tightening and interest rate headwinds have been working in favour of allocations to private credit. Today, more than ever, alternatives should be a core component of all portfolios. As Co-Chair of the AIMA Canada Alternative Credit Council Committee, I will continue to advance the industry and work alongside the newly appointed Executive Committee, which is ready to lead and take AIMA Canada to the next level.” 

Claire Van Wyk-Allan, Managing Director, Head of Canada & Investor Engagement, Americas, at AIMA, added: “The AIMA Canada Executive Committee provides important strategic insight and overall leadership for our local AIMA community. We are thrilled to feature a diversity of expert perspectives among returning and new members serving in this upcoming term. I’m excited to work with our new Executive to continue delivering meaningful impact for our AIMA members locally and globally, especially as alternative investments continue to be important pillars in institutional and wealth portfolios alike. I am very appreciative to our outgoing executive committee members for their notable contributions and thank them immensely for their support and engagement.” 

Notes to Editors 

AIMA 
 
The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is the global representative of the alternative investment industry, with around 2,100 corporate members in over 60 countries. AIMA’s fund manager members collectively manage more than US$3 trillion in hedge fund and private credit assets. 

AIMA draws upon the expertise and diversity of its membership to provide leadership in industry initiatives such as advocacy, policy and regulatory engagement, educational programmes and sound practice guides. AIMA works to raise media and public awareness of the value of the industry. AIMA set up the Alternative Credit Council (ACC) to help firms focused in the private credit and direct lending space. The ACC currently represents over 250 members that manage over US$1 trillion of private credit assets globally. AIMA is committed to developing skills and education standards and is a co-founder of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation (CAIA) – the first and only specialised educational standard for alternative investment specialists. AIMA is governed by its Council (Board of Directors). AIMA was founded in 1990, with the AIMA Canada subsidiary formed in 2003. 

AIMA Media Contact

Claire Van Wyk-Allan,

Managing Director, Head of Canada & Investor Engagement, Americas, AIMA

+1 416 453 0111

[email protected]