(May 1 – 18:10 ET) – Helen Kearns is the new president of Nasdaq Canada. She will assume the post on May 15.

“It is very exciting to be a part of Nasdaq Canada. Increasingly we are seeing Canadian investors and companies look to the global stage to define their success. Nasdaq Canada provides a means by which they can achieve that,” Kearns said in a statement.

Kearns will be responsible for leading the overall operation, growth, and development of the exchange, which was launched by the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. in November 2000.

Kearns joins Nasdaq Canada from Kearns Capital Corp., a firm she started several years ago, and left late last year. She specialized in underwriting and financial advisory services for high growth, new economy companies. Prior to starting her own shop, Kearns was head of institutional equity sales and trading at Richardson Greenshields of Canada Ltd.

Nasdaq’s CEO Wick Simmons said, “Helen Kearns brings the leadership ability and wealth of experience in the Canadian capital markets needed to make Nasdaq grow and thrive.”

In the first phase of the Nasdaq Canada rollout, Nasdaq terminals have been installed at 10 Canadian securities firms in Montreal.

Phase Two will coincide with introduction of Nasdaq’s SuperMontage, which will provide for the display of multiple prices from each market participant. It will allow participation by non-NASD member firms in Canada; trading in both U.S. and Canadian dollars; the opportunity to list Canadian companies exclusively on Nasdaq Canada; and it will bring regulatory oversight by both NASDR and the Quebec Securities Commission.

In Phase Three, Nasdaq Canada will be linked with Nasdaq, Nasdaq Japan, and Nasdaq Europe.