CIRI Appoints Yvette Lokker as President and CEO

TORONTO, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Colleen Vancha, Chairman of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI) Board of Directors, is pleased to announce the appointment of Yvette Lokker to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of CIRI effective January 1, 2013. Ms. Lokker will succeed Tom Enright, who is leaving to pursue future opportunities December 31, 2012.

Ms. Lokker began her career as an investor relations professional with MDS Inc. in 1999. During her time in investor relations she volunteered for the CIRI Ontario Chapter as a Board member with responsibility for the workshops. In 2008, she joined CIRI as the Director of Communications and Professional Development and was promoted to Vice President in the fall of 2011. In addition to her many accomplishments, Ms. Lokker was responsible for establishing the first investor relations certification program in North America in partnership with the Richard Ivey School of Business. The first group of Certified Professionals in Investor Relations (CPIR) will graduate this fall.  Ms. Lokker has a degree in chemistry and a business diploma both from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has also completed the Ivey Strategic Management of Investor Relations program and the Canadian Securities Course.

"The Board of Directors is extremely pleased to have someone of Yvette's calibre taking over the helm of this organization. Yvette is highly respected in the industry and has the professional knowledge, management capabilities and strategic vision to move CIRI forward", said Colleen Vancha.  "We are also very grateful to Tom Enright whose leadership over the past four years has helped shape the organization and create a strong foundation from which we will prosper.  Over the next six months Tom and Yvette will be working together to transition leadership responsibilities as Yvette prepares the organization for the next stage of its growth."

"I am honoured to be the next leader of this important organization, particularly at a time when the role of investor relations is growing and being recognized for its strategic value at the executive level," said Ms. Lokker in response to her appointment. "I look forward to working with a very seasoned board and the CIRI team as we build on recent accomplishments to contribute to the Canadian capital market by raising the stature of the profession through advocacy and providing meaningful professional development and resources to support the needs of our membership."

About CIRI

CIRI is a professional, not-for-profit association of executives responsible for communication between public corporations, investors and the financial community. CIRI contributes to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital market by advancing the practice of investor relations, the professional competency of its members and the stature of the profession. With more than 600 members and four chapters across the country, CIRI is the voice of IR in Canada. For further information, please visit www.ciri.org.

SOURCE Canadian Investor Relations Institute

Image with caption: "Yvette Lokker (CNW Group/Canadian Investor Relations Institute)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120612_C8017_PHOTO_EN_15077.jpg