TORONTO - Certified Management Accountants of Ontario (CMA Ontario) is proud to announce that Michael Lem, FCMA, CFP, C.Dir., has been appointed Chair of the Board of Governors for 2009-2010.

Certified Management Accountants of Ontario is a self-governing, professional organization that awards the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation to qualified candidates in Ontario. CMAs are strategic and financial management professionals who combine accounting expertise with professional management skills and strategy to provide leadership, innovation, and an integrating perspective to organizational decision-making.

Michael has a strong background in financial services, business and strategic planning. As Vice-President with BMO Nesbitt Burns, Michael heads The Lem Group. He is also an Investment Advisor and Financial Planner. Michael has been with BMO Nesbitt Burns since 1991 and teaches and writes articles on investment strategies, and life, financial, retirement and estate planning. Michael is a recognized expert in the areas of financial planning and life planning, and lectures extensively in Canada and around the world on these topics.

Michael Lem has been a CMA since 1995 and was awarded a Fellowship to the Society of Management Accountants of Canada in 2003. He holds a Certified Financial Planner designation, a Certified Senior Advisor designation, an Audit Committee Certified designation and a Chartered Director designation.

Michael has a longstanding record of service to the CMA designation. After serving as First Vice-Chair of CMA Ontario in 2008-09, Michael was named Chair of the Board. He has been an active member of the CMA Canada Board of Governors from 2005 to 2008, and now serves as Vice-Chair of the CMA Canada Council of Chairs.

Michael is an active member of his community. He serves on the Business Advisory Board for the Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre (LKFLC), University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM). Michael is also the past President of the Erindale College Alumni Association, UTM. In September 2006, Michael was awarded the University of Toronto Arbor Award for outstanding voluntary service and has been named one of UTM's 40 most outstanding alumni. Michael served as Chairman of the Board of the Financial Planners Standards Council from 2002 to 2003, and served on its Board of Directors from 1999 to 2003.