AGF Management Ltd. has appointed David Hale, global economist and founder of Chicago-based Hale Advisors, LLC, as a director on the board of AGF’s mutual fund corporations and a governor of AGF’s mutual fund trusts.

“David brings a strong global perspective and insight to our mutual fund boards,” said Blake Goldring, president and chief executive officer, AGF, in a news release. “As part of AGF’s ongoing commitment to responsible fund governance, we look forward to welcoming this pre-eminent economist to our boards.”

Before launching his own firm, Hale was global chief economist for the Zurich Financial Services Group. In that role, he advised the company on the economic outlook and a wide range of public policy issues.

He is a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as well as a variety of government and private sector economic policy research groups in Washington, Tokyo and Berlin. He also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of China Online, LLC, a service provider for business and economic news about China.

As a commentator on a broad range of economic subjects, his articles have appeared in such publications as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.