TFSA Appoints New VP of Sector Growth & Development

TORONTO, June 1, 2012 /CNW/ - The Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA) today announced that Matthew Hobbs has been appointed as Vice President, Sector Growth and Development, effective immediately.

Mr. Hobbs has more than 19 years of experience in the field of international trade and investment, specializing in foreign direct investment attraction, international trade promotion, international marketing and events, government and stakeholder relations and business development in both the public and private sectors.

"At the March meeting of our Financial Services Leadership Council, CEOs said they continue to see a clear window of opportunity for Toronto's financial industry on the global stage.  They urged TFSA and our economic development partners in the City, Ontario and Ottawa to dramatically step up efforts to take advantage of it," said TFSA's President Janet Ecker.  "Bringing in someone with Matthew's extensive experience will expand TFSA's capacity to execute our jobs attraction strategy and strengthen our collaborative efforts with government partners.  He has a diverse skills set as well as international experience to drive this agenda and its related marketing initiatives."

Formerly with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Mr. Hobbs has worked in such dynamic markets as the UK, India, Turkey, USA and Canada. He recently served as the UK's Director of Inward Investment & Marketing in Canada, where his team received UKTI's "Worldwide Team of the Year Award" for their success, including increasing the number of investment projects in the UK by 65 percent.

"This is an exciting new challenge for me," said Mr. Hobbs. "After the five great years that Toronto has given me, I am pleased to have an opportunity to give back to the City's economy. I believe that now is Canada's time, particularly in the financial services sector. However we must move fast to capitalize on the sector's world-wide reputation for stability, business acumen and expertise and use it to attract new companies and associated jobs. We must also endeavor to support, develop and grow our existing companies."

The TFSA is a unique, public/private organization representing the financial services industry and its business support services, all levels of government and academic institutions.  Its mandate is to enhance and promote the competitiveness of the Toronto region as a global financial hub, to drive benefits for the financial cluster as well as for the economic development of the region more broadly.   Originally created in 2001, members of the TFSA now include over 50 of Toronto's top financial institutions, industry associations, service providers, universities and colleges.

Brian Smith, 416-822-3130, [email protected]