Industry moves: Former BMO private wealth head Geoff Newton joins RBC Wealth Management

Each week, we summarize notable moves across the financial industry.

• Industry veteran Geoff Newton has joined RBC Wealth Management as managing director, head of business development and client acquisition — a newly created position. Newton previously spent 25 years with BMO Nesbitt Burns, serving in various senior management roles, including managing director and senior vice-president, as well as being an investment advisor. He was credited by the bank with playing a role in the creation of BMO’s Canadian private wealth business, and was named co-head of BMO Private Wealth in 2022, departing in fall 2023 amid a restructuring of the private wealth division.
• Another BMO Private Wealth alumni, Paul Wylie, has joined Buckler AI, a know-your-product software and investment due diligence firm, as chief operations officer (COO). Wylie, who brings three decades of experience focused on strategy, advisor experience and client experience to the role, was head of BMO’s Family Office, Canada, business for three years, ending in fall 2025. He previously spent nine years with IPC Securities Corp. as senior vice-president, business development, and has also held vice-president (VP) roles with PI Financial Corp., TD Waterhouse and Scotiabank, where he was also head of international brokerage. As COO, Wylie will focus on scaling operations, supporting onboarding excellence and fostering a culture of innovation that empowers advisors and firms to meet evolving regulatory and client demands, he told Investment Executive in an email. “I am incredibly excited to be at the front edge of our evolving industry, join an experienced team, and have a significant impact for all advisors by embracing and leading AI & digital adoption,” he said.
• Warren Rudick has left Manulife Wealth & Asset Management after more than 16 years, following a recent reorganization. Rudick, who was most recently VP and chief counsel for the Canadian business, said in a LinkedIn post that he’s looking forward to exploring potential opportunities as a global legal and compliance leader in wealth and asset management. During his time with Manulife, he aided the firm’s expansion into liquid alternative funds and private markets, supported the firm’s expansion of its cross-border institutional sales footprint, and served as chief counsel to its U.K. and Swiss entities.
• Angelo Parziale has joined Manulife Investment Management as director, practice management, stepping away from Sun Life after more than five years as director, Sun Life Consulting. Parziale brings 35 years of industry experience, starting his career as an advisor at Regal Capital Planners Ltd. in the early 1990s. He also spent nine years with DundeeWealth Inc., where his last role was VP of investment services with Goodman Private Wealth Management. More recently, he’s had senior-level roles focused on advisor development, business strategy and sales at firms including Sun Life Global Investments and CI Global Asset Management.
• Nick Moskun has joined Manulife Canada as director of mass markets, leaving Equitable Life of Canada after six years as director of insurance sales. He previously held roles in sales with Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Co. and RBC Insurance, as an analyst at TD, and as claims adjuster.
• Fabiola Cardenas has joined Optimize Wealth Management as a wealth planner. She makes the move from TD, where she worked in various roles for 19 years, including 11 years as a senior financial planner at TD Wealth Financial Planning.
• Jeff Conron has joined First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc. as a financial planner, moving from Scotia Wealth Management. Over the past 16 years, he’s also held planning roles with Wellington-Altus, MCA Cross Border Advisors Inc., and TD; and has served in tax and estate roles at Invesco Canada.
• Stefano Cavaliere has joined Picton Investments as a portfolio strategist. He brings more than 25 years of industry experience, and was most recently VP, systematized solutions at Dynamic Funds for 12 years. Before that, Cavaliere was a senior analyst, then associate portfolio manager at National Bank of Canada.
• Joe Cerullo has joined Russell Investments as director, client portfolio management. He was previously a senior consultant with Segal Marco Advisors for more than 18 years.
• Annette Ryan has been named parliamentary budget officer. Ryan has more than 30 years of experience in economic analysis, fiscal policy, taxation and public finance. She makes the move from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, where she served as deputy director, partnerships, policy and analysis, and chief financial officer for more than six years. She’s also held senior roles with several government departments, including an associate assistant deputy minister role at Finance Canada.
• Jim Doris has been appointed as an adjudicator on the Capital Markets Tribunal of the Ontario Securities Commission. Doris is a leading litigation lawyer and founding partner of Tyr LLP in 2019. Before that, he was with a senior litigation partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, where he practised for more than 25 years.

If you know of other people moves in the financial industry and/or would like us to consider your announcement, email Alisha Hiyate at alisha.h@newcom.ca.