New York-listed Morningstar has named Paul Kaplan as director of research for Morningstar Canada, reporting to president and chief executive Scott Mackenzie.

Most recently Kaplan served as director of quantitative research for Morningstar Europe, having held a number of research and business development roles at the firm over the past 13 years.

In his new role Kaplan will develop methodologies for Morningstar's fund analysis and indexes, while helping to create tools for advisors and retail investors globally, but with a focus on Canadian research, Mackenzie said.

Before joining Morningstar in 1999 as director of quantitative research, Kaplan was vice president and chief economist for Ibbotson Associates, an asset allocation specialist acquired by Morningstar in 2006.

In other recent moves, earlier this month Morningstar Investment Management named its chief investment officer, Thomas Idzorek, as president of its global investment management division.

Morningstar has over $190 billion in assets under advisement or management, as at 31 March.