The Investment Dealers Association has appointed Maysar Al-Samadi to the newly created position of VP, Professional Standards. The new appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2003.

In his new position, Al-Samadi will be responsible for ensuring four critical functions:
– consistent, high quality and timely achievement of internal and external reporting requirements;
– national coordination of Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) oversight examinations and follow-up;
– comprehensive benchmarks and performance measures that accurately measure
Member Regulation performance;
– comprehensive and consistent quality
assurance programs throughout the Member Regulation Division.

The creation of this new position follows the establishment of new member regulation VP positions for Quebec and for Western Canada.

Al-Samadi has served as VP, Financial Compliance since 1997. Prior to joining the IDA, Mr. Al-Samadi had been with the Toronto Stock Exchange for some eight years, serving as Director of Member Examination and Reporting.

“We are committed to strong and consistent national standards within a framework of decentralized regional accountability,” says Paul Bourque, senior
VP, Member Regulation. “This new position will strengthen our ability to ensure appropriate autonomy for local regulatory decisions and relationships.”