SPARTAN FUND MANAGEMENT - Key Persons
Brent has over 25 years of experience in alternative investments, the derivatives markets and corporate finance. As Managing Director his role focuses on all aspects of Spartan's business, including financial, operational and new product development.
Brent started his career with the Royal Bank of Canada in 1983 in corporate finance where he worked extensively on leverage buy-outs and corporate restructurings. In 1989 he moved into the interest rate and currency derivatives market, responsible for financial institutions, provincial and corporate clients. In 1994 Brent joined Citibank Canada as Managing Director, Structured Finance to focus on the investor market.
From 1998 to 2009, Brent worked with a large global multi-strategy fund of fund hedge fund manager to introduce products to the Canadian institutional market place. During this time, he and his partners also created and introduced numerous innovative alternative investment products to the retail market. Brent has appeared on BNN-TV and is a frequent speaker at alternative investment industry forums and events. Brent obtained his B.Comm (Honours) with a specialization in Finance from the University of British Columbia and his MBA from Queen's University at Kingston.
Gary is a leading Canadian hedge fund executive with more than 25 years of experience covering all aspects of the hedge fund industry. As President of Spartan, his role primarily involves overseeing existing business lines and infrastructure, new product development and being part of the investor relations team that interacts with high-net-worth and institutional investors.
Gary started his career in the hedge fund industry while a partner at law firm McMillan LLP in Toronto, which he joined in 1987. He headed up McMillan's hedge fund practice and sat on their management committee. While there, he was repeatedly included in LEXPERT's Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. In 2003, Gary was instrumental in establishing the Canadian chapter of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA). He is a past Chairman of AIMA Canada.
Gary has written and spoken extensively in Canada and abroad on various issues that relate to the hedge fund industry, ranging from regulatory and compliance issues to the development of structured products for institutions. He has also appeared before various regulatory bodies and task forces within Canada relating to hedge funds, including testifying before the Senate Banking Committee in Canada regarding hedge fund regulation.
John Ackerl - Chief Investment Officer
As Chief Investment Officer, John is responsible for overseeing all of Spartan's portfolio management activities and personnel, including investment strategy, trading and risk management.
John spent the majority of his career at McLean Budden where he headed up the Portfolio Analytics Team, was a voting member of the Canadian equity Core Team and was involved in systems and product development. He also has experience in client service and manager research at Mercer's and Ernst & Young, in addition to experience with start-up investment management firms.
John is a graduate of the MBA (Finance) program at the University of British Columbia and received an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph. As well, John has completed the Canadian Securities Course and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Commodity Trading Manager (CTM).
Job Titles:
- Illinois ) Manager, Operations