TORONTO - Mary Rygiel, Chair of the Board of Directors of the RDBA is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Smith to the role of President & CEO, effective immediately.

"We are pleased to have someone of Brian's caliber and financial industry expertise joining us to lead our association, as we further our role as a Self Regulatory Organization," said Mrs. Rygiel. "At the RDBA, we've experienced tremendous growth throughout 2009 as an SRO and we recognize the importance of working with all our members and stakeholders in the deposit broker channel. This appointment is part of our ongoing commitment to dedicating new resources and expertise for the association, as we continue our growth across Canada".

Mr. Smith is responsible for leading the association through its strategic development and execution of its mission.

Mr. Smith is a 30 year veteran in the financial services industry and has served in executive positions across Canada, for the past 20 years, in the banking, trust and insurance channels. Most recently, Brian was a National Director with a major financial institution.

"Brian will bring great strength to our association with impressive track records of delivering results and strong relationships across the financial services industry" added Mrs. Rygiel. "As our industry advances, with a significant focus on regulatory compliance and customer protection, his leadership in strengthening relationships with our stakeholders and spearheading new initiatives, to bring value to our members, will be instrumental in positioning the RDBA for even further growth and success."

RDBA Mission: Deposit Brokers are specialists in providing convenient access to GICs and other guaranteed deposits issued by chartered Canadian financial institutions, as well as an array of other products and services. Our members adhere to professional standards of conduct, product knowledge and customer service. Thus must comply also with all public regulations and at all times demonstrate, as is our tradition, an unsurpassed concern for the investor's best interests.

Incorporated in 1987, the Registered Deposit Brokers Association (RDBA), formerly the Federation of Canadian Independent Deposit Brokers (FCIDB), is the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) for those who sell client-named deposit products, with membership from all regions across Canada. The RDBA is organized for the purpose of regulating the operations and business conduct of its members and their representatives, with a view to maintaining investor confidence and protecting the best interest of the investing public.