Fidelity Investments announced Friday it has named Robert Strickland, a 20-year financial services veteran, as president of Fidelity Investments Canada Ltd. He succeeds David Denison, who left Fidelity to head the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

“Rob Strickland has a proven track record as a sales and general manager who aligns a company’s strategic direction based on meeting the needs of its customers,” said Robert Reynolds, Fidelity vice chairman and COO, in a release. “There is great opportunity for Fidelity in Canada, and we are delighted that Rob will be leading the charge as we grow our business in this marketplace.”

Strickland, 43, joined Fidelity in 2003 in his current role as executive vp and head of Fidelity Advisor and Alliance Distribution, which plays a key role in wholesaling to advisors, financial planners and the head offices of Canadian financial institutions.

Before joining Fidelity, Strickland held a number of senior positions with TD Bank Financial Group, including president, TD Waterhouse Financial Planning; chief operating officer, Tokyo-Mitsubishi TD Waterhouse Securities Co. in Tokyo; and president, TD Evergreen.

From 1986 to 1994, Strickland was with Nesbitt Burns Securities Ltd, where he most recently was a vp and branch manager. He began his career in 1984 with a mergers and acquisitions consultancy specializing in mid-market transactions.

Strickland received an honours in Business Administration from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., and a masters in Business Administration from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

Fidelity Canada is Canada’s eighth largest mutual fund company. As of Dec. 31, 2004, Fidelity Canada managed more than $31 billion in assets.