Royal Bank of Canada Wealth Management has promoted Brenda Vince to be head of wealth management strategy, moving into her new post on 1 February 2009.

George Lewis, group head of RBC WM, said: "Brenda has been tremendously successful in building RBC Asset Management into an industry leader in Canada. With her exceptional strategic insight, client focus experience and commitment to operational excellence, Brenda will now be a great asset to all of our wealth management businesses as we continue to execute our strategy to extend our lead in Canada, expand in the US and internationally."

Darrell Oswald and Patrick Keeley, co-heads of the combined discretionary wealth management business of RBC and Phillips, Hager & North will report to Ms Vince.

In related moves Doug Coulter, currently president and chief executive of RBC Direct Investing will take over from Ms Vince as president of RBC Asset Management and Damon Williams will become president of PH&N in addition to an expansion of his current role as head of institutional management for PH&N to include RBC AM.