OUR
PEOPLE
DAVID ITZKOVITS
CEO
David Itzkovits is the Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam Global Investment Solutions.
David has been in the financial services industry for 15 years working with Top Tier Financial Institutions, their advisors and clients. Prior to joining SGIS, David worked as Regional Director of Europe and Canada for Old Mutual (Bermuda) Ltd. and was responsible for all business development in these areas. Prior to joining Old Mutual, he was Vice President at HSBC Private Bank in New York. He co-managed 75 relationships and a $635 million portfolio of investment, credit and insurance solutions for high net worth clients.
David is a CFA Charterholder, and has an MBA from the in Ivey School of Business in Canada. He also has a Bachelor of Science from McGill University.
GIDEON NELL
GLOBAL HEAD OF
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Gideon joined Sanlam in June 2014 to manage business development of the international investments businesses. His primary role is global head of business development of Sanlam Global Investment Solutions with additional responsibility of establishing an institutional business.
Prior to joining Sanlam, Gideon spent 5 years as partner at Armstrong Investment Managers LLP, focussing on research, corporate strategy and business development. He previously worked at Insight Investment as director - European offshore centers. Before moving to Europe in 2002, Gideon was a private client portfolio manager at PPM Stockbrokers and Appleton Partners in South Africa.
Gideon did an IMM at the Global School of Business in South Africa, International Capital Markets certificate with the Securities Institute (UK), has an FPC from the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK) and the IMC from the CFA Society of the UK.
PIERS FOX
HEAD OF MARKETING
Piers joined Sanlam in November 2011, to develop the marketing of the international investments businesses. He now heads up Sanlam Global Investment Solutions’ (SGIS) marketing. He is also Executive Committee Member of SGIS.
Prior to joining Sanlam, Piers spent 4 years at ACPI as a director of marketing, with a focus on launching new products, driving strategy, rebranding and PR. He started his career at Pictet Asset Management in 2000 in a junior marketing role and has developed his career through roles at AIG, GAM and BlueBay Asset Management.
Piers has a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing from the University of Surrey.
JAMES VAN ZYL
HEAD OF FINANCE
James joined Sanlam Global Investment Solutions (SGIS) in July 2014. He is responsible for the financial reporting and forecasting of SGIS.
Prior to joining Sanlam, James worked as operational financial manager in the mining industry where he was responsible for implementing operational reporting. Preceding this, he worked in the agriculture industry as financial manager where he was responsible for building a financial department to support a rapidly growing business. His career started as audit clerk in Stellenbosch.
James is a CA(SA) and completed his BAcc and BAcc (Hons) degrees through Stellenbosch University.
TESS CHRISTENSEN
HEAD OF LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE
Tess joined SGIS in January 2018. Prior to her appointment she worked as a senior legal manager for Sanlam Investments. Tess is currently an Executive Committee Member of Sanlam Global Investment Solutions (SGIS). As Head of Legal and Compliance, she is responsible for managing the legal and compliance aspects of SGIS’ business.
Tess has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance, investment and financial services industries and is an admitted attorney in South Africa. Prior to joining Sanlam, Tess spent 3 years in private practice at a top tier law firm in South Africa.
Tess earned a BA from Rhodes University (with distinction) and an LLB honors degree (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town.
BRENDAN GALLAGER
HEAD OF PRODUCT
Brendan joined Sanlam in August 2015 as a global relationship manager. He has since moved into his current role focusing on the development, enhancement and smooth operational running of SGIS’s products and solutions.
Prior to joining Sanlam, Brendan spent 2 years as an independent consultant; setting up various offshore life, pension, advisory and distribution businesses, with primary focus on the Asian, Middle East and Europe ex UK markets. He was previously a Partner at Armstrong Investment Managers LLP focusing on investment operations, and business development.
Prior to Armstrong, Brendan worked as a European Business Development Associate at Insight Investment in the UK. Brendan arrived in the UK in 2003, and started his career as a client associate at Fidelity Investments, and then took the position of investment trader, at The Bank of New York Mellon.
Brendan did an Economics and Corporate Finance Degree at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (South Africa), obtained the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK.
MICHELLE MOLLER
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Michelle joined the SGIS team early in 2018 and is responsible for Operations. She is a financial industry client services specialist, with over 25 years’ experience in retail services and general management. She held Executive and Director roles for 13 years as executive responsible for client services with Glacier by Sanlam in South Africa. Here she managed a large team of people who oversaw all client experience needs as well as administrative adherence to compliance and risk regulations for the business.
Prior to joining Sanlam Michelle worked with the internet start-up bank, 20twenty and started her career in financial services with the South African Life insurers, Norwich Life and Fedlife.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology as well as a post-graduate degree in Journalism from Rhodes University.
JASON WINDERBAUM
AUSTRALIA
Jason was a founding team member of Sanlam’s managed risk strategies in Australia, which commenced in 2011. Prior to joining Sanlam, Jason commenced his career as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, before moving onto roles within ultra-high net worth family offices at two of Australia’s richest families – the Packer’s & the Lowy’s. Jason also spent 4 years working as the General Manager of a highly respected private client advice business and has a well-developed understanding of advisers and the Australian financial services landscape.
Jason has earned an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s of Accounting, including being a registered Chartered Accountant. Lastly, he has a Master’s in Applied Finance with a triple major in Investment Management, Wealth Management & Corporate Finance, which saw him achieve the joint-top mark in Australia for Investment Management.
MARK KAPLAN
HEAD OF AMERICAS
Mark has been primarily involved in the global distribution and marketing of International financial service products for the past 15 years in the Americas, Middle East, Asia and Africa. He has been Head of Sales and Marketing with numerous companies and was a former ATP tennis professional ranked #117 in the world. He resides in Stamford, CT with his wife and 3 children.
JORGE GUTIERREZ
VICE PRESIDENT (AMERICAS)
Jorge has over 20 years of investment sales experience in retail and wholesale U.S. offshore and Latin American markets. He served as head of offshore distribution for a U.S. asset manager for about for 10 years. He also worked for a UK private banking institution serving HNW Latin American clients from Argentina and Chile. Jorge resides in Miami, Florida with his wife Rebecca and two children. In his spare time, Jorge enjoys traveling with his family to see their son compete at regional and national optimist sailing regattas.
ROGER BARTHOLOMEW
REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR - UK
Roger joined Sanlam in June 2018 to manage business development activities in the UK. Prior to joining Sanlam, Roger spent 10 years in senior management and distribution roles at Jupiter Asset Management in London. Prior to Jupiter, he worked at Old Mutual International as Head of Investment Marketing and Mercer Investment Consulting.
Roger has an honours degree in Economics, holds the International Capital Markets certificate with the Securities Institute (UK) and Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK. He is also a qualified football coach licensed by the English F.A.