Raj Lala
President & CEO
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Raj Lala
President & CEO
Prior to founding Evolve ETFs, Mr. Lala served as Head of WisdomTree Canada – a division of WisdomTree Investments Inc., one of the world’s largest ETF issuers. Prior to this, Mr. Lala was Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Markets for Fiera Capital Corporation, a prominent Canadian investment management firm with over $100 billion in assets under management. Mr. Lala co-founded and served as President and CEO of Propel Capital Corporation (which was acquired by Fiera Capital Corporation in September 2014). Propel raised approximately $1 Billion in structured products in its five years of operation. Prior to Propel, Mr. Lala worked with Jovian Capital. Mr. Lala held several roles at Jovian including President of JovFunds Inc., an asset management division of Jovian Capital. Mr. Lala holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto (1994).
Michael Simonetta
Chairman
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Michael Simonetta
Chairman
Mr. Simonetta has a broad background in management, investment and capital markets. Mr. Simonetta was one of the founding partners of First Asset Management Inc. (“FAMI”) and served as President and CEO of FAMI from 1997 to 2006. At the time FAMI was sold in 2005, FAMI managed in excess of $30 billion in assets and was one of Canada’s top ten largest companies in the pension and high net worth asset management business. FAMI’s affiliates have included: Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd.; Foyston Gordon & Payne, Inc.; Deans Knight Capital Management Ltd., Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc.; Covington Capital Corporation; First Asset Funds Inc. (formerly Triax Capital Corporation); and Northwest Mutual Funds Inc. FAMI was sold in 2005 to Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (NYSE: AMG), a publicly listed investment management company based in Boston. Mr. Simonetta is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, obtaining his C.A. designation in 1984 while achieving Top 20 Honour Roll standing, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo (1983 – Gold Medal).
Elliot Johnson
Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer
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Elliot Johnson
Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Johnson is Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer with Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Johnson was Senior Vice President, Retail Markets at Fiera Capital Corporation, a prominent Canadian investment management firm. Prior to this role, Mr. Johnson served as Chief Operating Officer of Fiera Quantum Limited Partnership, an alternative investment manager. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Johnson led technology management for a number of business lines at National Bank of Canada. Prior to 2012, he spent 13 years at GMP Capital Corp. in a variety of management roles across institutional brokerage, wealth management and asset management businesses. Mr. Johnson holds the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) designation, the Derivatives Markets Specialist (DMS) designation and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). Mr. Johnson serves as a trustee on the board of the Upper Canada College Foundation. From 2016 to 2020 he served on the board of Trinity College at the University of Toronto as the Chair of the Committee on Investments.
Keith Crone
Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing
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Keith Crone
Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing
Mr. Crone brings over 20 years experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Crone served as Vice President, Retail Markets at Fiera Capital Corporation, a prominent Canadian investment management firm with over $100 Billion in assets under management. Mr. Crone served as Vice President and Partner of Propel Capital Corporation (which was acquired by Fiera Capital Corporation in September 2014). Propel raised approximately $1 Billion in structured products in its five years of operation. Prior to Propel, Mr. Crone served as Senior Vice President, Sales within JovFunds Inc., the specialty investment arm of Jovian Capital Corporation. Prior to 2005, Mr. Crone served in various sales and marketing capacities at Dynamic Funds, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scotiabank.
Scharlet Igo
Chief Financial Officer
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Scharlet Igo
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 572-2115
sigo@evolveetfs.comPrior to joining Evolve ETFs, Ms. Igo played a key role in the establishment of a Derivatives and Alternative Investments Administration group at Fiera Capital Corporation, a major Canadian investment management firm with over $100 billion in asset under management. In addition, Ms. Igo was an integral part of driving a full-scale operational process for Fiera Quantum Limited Partnership, an alternative investment manager. Previously, Ms. Igo was a Senior Analyst on the Operations Risk and Valuation Group at Curaçao International Trust Company Fund Services (Canada), working closely with many prominent US and European hedge funds. Ms. Igo received a BA Dipl. with Honours from Humber Business School, a BAS Specialized Honours from York University and a MFin from Queens University. Ms. Igo has completed Level II of the CFA Program. Through Humber Business Schools Ms. Igo was awarded the David Dodge Economics Award, personally presented by David Dodge, the Former Governor of the Bank of Canada for excellence in studies in economics. Ms. Igo was also presented the Rosemary Brown Human Rights Award for outstanding academic achievement. Ms. Igo volunteers as an Advisor for Queen’s University Smith School of Business – Alumni Advisory Program.
Pete Partchenko
Senior Vice President, Sales
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Pete Partchenko
Senior Vice President, Sales
647.921.2120
ppartchenko@evolveetfs.comMr. Partchenko is Senior Vice President, Sales for Evolve ETFs. Mr. Partchenko brings over 16 years experience in the financial services industry, working with retail financial advisors across Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Partchenko was VP, Sales at First Asset. Prior to that role, Mr. Partchenko served 10 years in corporate finance and accounting with Canadian Tire Corporation and BDO Dunwoody. Mr. Partchenko holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Michigan State University and a Master’s degree in Physical Education Exercise Science.
Patrick Yared
Senior Vice President, Sales
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Patrick Yared
Senior Vice President, Sales
514-573-1500
pyared@evolveetfs.comMr. Yared is Senior Vice President, Sales for Evolve ETFs. Mr. Yared brings over 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Yared was a Regional Director sales for CIBC Asset Management, responsible for business development within the full-service brokerage community. Prior to that role, Mr. Yared was a Regional Vice President at TD Asset Management and worked as a Consultant, Dealer Relations for Manulife. Mr. Yared holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Quebec in Montreal, majoring in Marketing.
Sarah Leung
Vice President, Sales
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Sarah Leung
Vice President, Sales
416-572-2412
sleung@evolveetfs.comMs. Leung brings over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, working with investment advisors and portfolio managers across Canada. Prior to joining Evolve, Ms. Leung was responsible for business development at BMO Global Asset Management, providing sales support and education of ETFs, mutual funds and segregated funds to financial advisors throughout the country. She brings extensive industry knowledge and can assist with investment analysis and portfolio construction. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and is fluent in Cantonese.
Rohan Mehta
Vice President, Sales
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Rohan Mehta
Vice President, Sales
647.963.2537
rmehta@evolveetfs.comMr. Mehta brings over five years of experience in the financial services industry, working with investment advisors all over Ontario. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Mehta was a VP of Partnerships at a Toronto startup in the education sector. Prior to that, Mr. Mehta worked at Mackenzie Investments as an Inside Wholesaler. Mr. Mehta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Financial Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Dianne Sison
Marketing Associate
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Dianne Sison
Marketing Associate
dsison@evolveetfs.comMs. Sison is the Marketing Associate for Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Ms. Sison developed a diverse skillset through similar marketing roles in various industries such as retail, corporate, entertainment and advertising. Ms. Sison holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Theatre Arts degree and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Advertising Copywriting from Humber College. She also holds a Master in Business Administration, Major in Marketing degree from Asian Institute of Management, established by Harvard Business School as the first international business school in Asia. She was given the Dean’s List award twice and graduated at the top ten percent of her MBA class. Ms. Sison is a lifetime member of the international business honour society, Beta Gamma Sigma. She also volunteers as an active member of Zonta International, a non-profit global organization that helps empower women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Shell Liang
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
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Shell Liang
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
sliang@evolveetfs.comShell Liang is Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Liang was Senior Portfolio Analyst at Bristol Gate Capital Partners, a world-class investment manager in dividend growth strategy, where his role evolved from trade execution to investment research. Prior to Bristol Gate, Mr. Liang was part of the team running full spectrum of investment operations, for the alternative strategies at Fiera Capital Corporation, a prominent Canadian investment management firm with over $100 billion under management. Prior to joining Fiera, Mr. Liang held multiple positions at State Street Corporation, one of the largest asset management companies in the world with over $2 trillion under management. Mr. Liang holds an Honours degree in Financial Mathematics from Wilfrid Laurier University, and holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation.
Steve Pate
Vice President, Head of Trading
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Steve Pate
Vice President, Head of Trading
spate@evolveetfs.comSteve Pate is Vice President, Head or Trading for Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Mr. Pate was a Senior Trader at Fiera Capital Corporation, a prominent Canadian investment management firm with over $100 billion under management. Mr. Pate specialized in trading international derivatives, forex and equities. Prior to this role, Mr. Pate had been Vice President, Quantitative Trading and Technology Development for Fiera Quantum Limited Partnership (Formerly GMP Investment Management) since 2008. Mr. Pate brings over a decade of experience developing and implementing algorithmic trading systems in equities, options and futures markets. He successfully completed the Derivative Fundaments Course and Futures Licensing Course and is currently pursuing the CIM designation.