Reid Baker, manager analytics and data at Fundata Canada Inc., has been elected chairman of the Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC).

Baker takes over as chair of the committee effective January 1. He replaces Brian Bridger, director of analytics and data at Fundata Canada, who will continue to participate in the committee as vice chairman.

“The establishment and maintenance of widely accepted classification standards is an essential service for mutual fund investors and fund industry participants,” noted Joanne De Laurentiis, president and CEO of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). “Reid’s steady leadership will guide the meticulous work of ensuring consistent set of categories.”

“I look forward to 2014 as we have some interesting and exciting items on the horizon and we continue to build on what’s been accomplished over the past few years,” Baker said.

CIFSC is a volunteer organization, made up of competing organizations that collaborate to create and maintain a single standardized investment fund classification system for use across Canada. Its current membership includes representatives from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA), Cannex Financial Exchanges, FP Datagroup, Fundata Canada, Morningstar Canada, The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC), Thomson Reuters/Lipper and individual consultants.