Profile
“I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
Gregory Hourigan has blazed trails in his new role as vice president and head of Canadian institutional business at Mackenzie Investments, where, in less than one year, he is making significant gains in building a new and expanded vision for his area of responsibility.
He is best known by his colleagues for possessing an overactive sense of urgency and a genuine passion for human interactions. That dedication and enthusiasm for the work at hand have enabled him to achieve extraordinary results throughout numerous executive sales roles across Canadian retail, national accounts, and institutional investment spaces.
Among his most significant achievements is securing hundreds of millions in new institutional business to fund over the coming quarters. He also secured over $500 million in institutional sub-advisory deals over the last year at his previous firm.
“I strive to bring maximum urgency and positive energy to everything I do,” Hourigan says. “This means having a full calendar, a busy travel schedule, and working to consistently exceed client expectations regarding quality and timely service. I aim to be indispensable and the most trusted business partner possible.”
Hourigan’s pivot into the investment world followed an early dream of flying CF-18 fighter jets for the Air Force. However, when he discovered in his fourth year of university that he could no longer pass the military’s eye exam, he took the plunge into finance and has been excelling across multiple channels ever since.
He began his career in the financial services industry in 2010 and has served as vice president in several different roles, including strategic relationships and retail and institutional sales at a well-known global asset management firm.
He holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation and earned an honors degree from the University of Guelph. Hourigan is also an avid traveler, licensed recreational pilot, and competitive race car driver in his spare time.
One of his current challenges involves counteracting perceptions that Mackenzie is primarily a “retail shop”. He overcomes this by actively working to promote the firm’s reputation as a true competitor in the Canadian and global institutional investment spaces by educating prospective clients on the breadth and depth of its institutional capabilities.
By employing effective strategies such as ensuring the Mackenzie name is front and center at industry events and conferences and personally reintroducing stakeholders to its brand and institutional investment capabilities, Hourigan has delivered meaningful progress and results quickly.
“I take pride in maximizing my performance in everything I do in life – in my hobbies, with my friends and family, and of course, professionally,” he says.
Suite 1500 - 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3K1
647 382 4929
greg.hourigan@mackenzieinvestments.com
linkedin.com/in/gregory-hourigan-cim-66982221
mackenzieinvestments.com
Gregory Hourigan
Vice President and Head of Canadian Institutional Sales
Mackenzie Investments
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“To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
2010
2012
2023
2013–2019
2019–present
Embarked on a journey in the retail advisory business
2010
Joined Franklin Templeton and rapidly ascended the ranks, achieving several VP titles related to retail and national accounts, as well as institutional business
2012
Chartered Investment Manager designation
Joined Mackenzie Investments as VP and head of Canadian institutional business, now in charge of institutional sales and service for all of Canada
2023
Senior Portfolio Manager, Total Portfolio Management at CPPIB
2013–
2019
CEO and president at UBC Investment Management
2019–
present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
How does he distinguish himself among fellow brokers?
“I believe all brokers are working very hard in a difficult market,” he says. “However, I have demonstrated continued growth, advocacy and performance on my client’s behalf, which is now recognised [for 10 consecutive years] in the Elite Broker awards.”
In 1990, Dixon got started with FAI, working in claims and as a team leader. From the late 1990s up until 2003, he worked at FAI and Suncorp in underwriting and as an area manager at VACC, CGU (South East Queensland). From 2003 to 2012, he got into broking and eventually started Dixon Insurance in 2013. Since then, he’s accumulated numerous acccolades, including Elite Broker, Diversity and Equity, and Fast Broker awards.
During the pandemic, Dixon challenged insurers over the Quarantine Act application to insurance wordings. His argument was that the Quarantine Act does not apply as an exclusion, as the Biosecurity Act was invoked by the Morrison Government, and this was not a subsequent amendment to the Quarantine Act. The test case in the Appeals court was won for Dixon’s client with a unanimous five-judge verdict.
He remains focused on transport, manufacturing, motor trade, engineering and large farm clients.
What are his plans for the future?
On a business level, “more of the same. I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes.”
On a personal level, Dixon invests significant time, effort and funds, along with his GT3, to support many charities through his passion for motorsport. From participating in and sponsoring the Thunderbolt Run (which provides tens of thousands of dollars in support for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer), to organising and running the Track Knights for Amira charity night where 28 Exotic Supercars raised funds through passenger laps in wet conditions, Dixon states “this is our time to give back to the community and those in need. My friendships and association with those seeking to do the same, allows us to contribute to those less fortunate and raise funds and awareness”.
He adds: “To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need.”