Industry moves: Nicola Wealth announces leadership changeup

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

• Abi Coman-Walker has been appointed chief operating officer of Nicola Wealth. She previously spent 16 years with HSBC in various roles, including COO, wealth and personal banking, and global head of business financial crime and regulatory risk, retail banking and wealth management. Most recently, Coman-Walker was COO of biotech firm Acuitas Therapeutics. She will succeed Jamie Duncan, who has served as COO for three decades and will retire at the end of the year. Duncan will remain chair of the firm’s philanthropy advisory board and will continue to serve as a director on the firm’s corporate board. Yannick Archambault has joined the firm as president, private wealth, bringing 30 years of wealth management and investment leadership experience. He was previously a partner and head of family office and private clients with KPMG Canada, and prior to that, was head of private wealth management clients and markets with TD, and co-head of the bank’s family office business. Vanessa Flockton, who was previously president, private wealth, is now vice-chair of the division, focused on client relationships and advisor mentorship. At the same time, firm founder and CEO John Nicola is planning to step down as CEO in January, but will remain chairman and chief investment officer. CEO-elect Chris Nicola will become CEO in his place. Nicola Wealth Management Ltd. is one of several asset managers that recently announced limited redemptions or reduced distributions on real estate funds after experiencing higher levels of redemption requests.
• Young Sub Lee has joined CIBC Private Wealth Wood Gundy as senior portfolio manager and senior investment advisor. He is moving from TD Wealth Private Investment Advice after more than 16 years with the firm.
• Paul Scott and Sean Middaugh have joined IG Wealth Management as senior financial consultants, leaving Manulife Wealth after 25 years and eight years, respectively.
• Bill Packham, president and CEO of Aviso Wealth, has been elected chair of the Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA) for a two-year term. Judy Goldring, CEO of AGF Investments, has completed her two-year term as chair, but will remain a member of the board. The full list of 2025-26 SIMA board members is available here.
• Christopher Metrakos has been appointed executive managing director of infrastructure and natural resources with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. Metrakos joined Ontario Teachers’ in 2014, most recently serving as senior managing director, natural resources. He previously worked in the energy sector and in investment banking.
• Stephanie Coyles has joined the board of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. She sits on a number of other boards, including Sun Life Financial, Inc., and was previously chief strategic officer at LoyaltyOne, Inc.

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.