Our People
Senior Leadership Team
Dennis Mitchell
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
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Dennis Mitchell MBA, CFA, CBV
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
Dennis Mitchell joined Starlight Capital in March 2018 as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. He has over 20 years of experience in the investment industry and has held executive positions with Sprott Asset Management, serving as Senior Vice-President and Senior Portfolio Manager, and Sentry Investments, serving as Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer.
Mr. Mitchell received the Brendan Wood International Canadian TopGun Award in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and the Brendan Wood International 2012 Canadian TopGun Team Leader Award. He also received the Afroglobal Television Excellence Award for Enterprise in 2020 and the Black Business and Professionals Association’s Harry Jerome President’s Award in 2021.
Mr. Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Business Valuator designations and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2002 and an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1998.
Mr. Mitchell currently sits on the Board of the Toronto Foundation and is Co-Founder and Director of the Black Opportunity Fund.
Graeme Llewellyn
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
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Graeme Llewellyn CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Graeme Llewellyn joined Starlight Capital in March 2018 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He has over 20 years of experience focused on asset management and the creation, operation and financial reporting for mutual funds, and has held executive positions with Sentry Investments, where he served as Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Mr. Llewellyn has a broad range of experience across the business with extensive experience in project management, information technology, and the creation, operation and financial reporting for mutual funds, closed-end funds, offering memorandum funds, separately managed accounts and hedge funds. He was an integral part in the growth of Sentry Investments.
Mr. Llewellyn is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Rotman Commerce Program at the University of Toronto.
Lou Russo
Senior Vice President, National Sales and Distribution
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1-647-245-2076
lrusso@starlightcapital.com
Lou Russo CIM®
Senior Vice President, National Sales and Distribution
Lou Russo joined the Starlight Capital Executive Team in June 2018 as Senior Vice-President, National Sales and Distribution. He has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry focused on sales, sales management and strategic institutional relationships.
Mr. Russo most recently held an executive position with Fiera Capital where he served as Senior Vice-President, Retail Markets and played an integral role in the growth of Fiera Capital’s retail distribution. Prior to that, he held senior positions with industry leaders Dynamic Funds, Fidelity Investments and Franklin Templeton Investments.
Mr. Russo holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and has completed the Fundamentals in Alternative Investments Certificate Program from the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA). He has also completed numerous industry courses including Portfolio Management Techniques, Professional Financial Planning and Canadian Investment Management courses.
Mr. Russo is a member of the Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets (CAASA) and the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA).
Investment Management Team
Sean Tascatan
Senior Portfolio Manager
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Sean Tascatan CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Sean Tascatan joined Starlight Capital in January 2023 as Senior Portfolio Manager. He has over 10 years of experience in the investment industry.
Mr. Tascatan most recently held a position at a Canadian independent asset management firm as the lead portfolio manager of numerous dividend funds, including a U.S. Dividend Growth Fund where he specialized in high-quality, dividend paying U.S. equities. Prior to that, he worked at Sentry Investments where he was a key member of an award-winning Equity Income team that garnered multiple Lipper Fund and Morningstar Investment Awards. There, he was the co-manager of a $3B U.S. Growth and Income Fund and a $500MM Diversified Equity Fund.
Mr. Tascatan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has completed the Options Licensing Course and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Financial Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Michael Giordano
Senior Portfolio Manager
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Michael Giordano CBA, CA, CPA, CIM®
Senior Portfolio Manager
Michael Giordano joined Starlight Capital in September 2022 as Senior Portfolio Manager. He has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry.
Mr. Giordano most recently held a position with Stone Asset Management (“SAM”) as Vice-President, Senior Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining SAM, he spent 10 years in portfolio management with Pinetree Capital and Lawrence & Company. Prior to that, he managed internal audit at Gordon Capital from 1992 to 1996.
Mr. Giordano holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) and Chartered Accountant designations and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business in 1995.
Hisham Yakub
Senior Portfolio Manager
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Hisham Yakub CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Hisham Yakub joined Starlight Capital in February 2023 as Senior Portfolio Manager. He has over 10 years of experience in the investment industry.
Mr. Yakub most recently held a position with a boutique Toronto-based investment management firm as an Investment Analyst and Portfolio Manager. He also spent the first six years of his business career focused on developing software tools for portfolio management applications. He progressed through several roles across the industry and finished his pre-MBA career at CPP Investment Board.
Mr. Yakub holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager designations and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in 2013 and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Information Systems from York University.
William Seto
Senior Trader
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William Seto
Senior Trader
William Seto joined Starlight Capital in August 2018 as Senior Investment Administrator and Trader. He has over 20 years of experience in the investment industry.
Mr. Seto, building on his progressive career from Operations Analyst to Portfolio Administrator to Senior Trader, believes in the value of creating exceptional operations and client experience from the ground up and brings with him a broad range of successful investment operations experience from asset management companies including Excel Funds, Hansberger Growth Investments, Sentry Select Capital, and Laketon Investment Management.
Mr. Seto has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.
Harry Tashakori
Research Analyst
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Harry Tashakori MFin, CFA
Research Analyst
Harry Tashakori joined Starlight Capital in September 2022 as a Research Analyst.
Mr. Tashakori most recently held a position with Stone Asset Management (“SAM”) as a research analyst and has contributed significantly to both the quantitative and fundamental aspects of SAM’s investment process. Prior to SAM, he held a position at CI Global Asset Management as a senior analyst where he was responsible for portfolio performance measurement and attribution, risk analysis and reporting for institutional businesses. Prior to that, he worked at MAPNA Group, a conglomerate of 42 companies and top player in power, oil & gas, and railway transportation industry in the Middle East as a senior infrastructure investment analyst.
Mr. Tashakori holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has completed the Certificate in Investment Performance and Measurement (CIPM) with the CFA Institute and has a Master of Finance from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.
Shay Turk
Research Analyst
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Shay Turk
Research Analyst
Shay Turk joined Starlight Capital in September 2023 as a Research Analyst.
Ms. Turk, prior to securing her full-time position at Starlight Capital, distinguished herself as a successful candidate through a series of internship experiences made possible by her qualification in her school’s co-op program. Her academic pursuits included rigorous financial mathematics coursework to hone her analytical acumen. Throughout her academic journey, she also actively engaged in major finance clubs and competitions, strategically building her network and knowledge base to forge a path towards a successful career in finance. The culmination of Ms. Turk's dedication to academic rigor and hands-on internship experiences uniquely equipped her to bring a distinctive blend of business acumen and mathematical expertise to her role at Starlight Capital, evolving from an internship into a rewarding full-time position.
Ms. Turk has an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration and Financial Mathematics degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Sales Team
Alex Piorkowski
Vice President, Sales – Southwestern Ontario
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1-647-922-8144
apiorkowski@starlightcapital.com
Alex Piorkowski CIM®
Vice President, Sales – Southwestern Ontario
Alexander Piorkowski joined Starlight Capital in July 2022 as Vice-President, Sales in Southwestern Ontario.
Mr. Piorkowski, with a focus on service, public and private markets, is proud to support his clients through this ever-changing market landscape. He has 10+ years of experience in the financial industry which includes Vice-President of Sales at Stone Investment Group (“SIG”) where he was an integral part in the growth of SIG, and prior to that, held various roles in risk management.
Mr. Piorkowski holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and has a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Economics degree from the University of Guelph.
Paolo Santini
Vice President, Sales – Quebec
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514-214-2912
psantini@starlightcapital.com
Paolo Santini
Vice President, Sales – Quebec
Paolo Santini joined Starlight Capital in May 2023 as Vice President, Sales – Quebec.
Mr. Santini brings with him over 30 years of experience in sales within the financial industry. Throughout his extensive career, he has consistently distinguished himself through exemplary customer service and knowledge of the stock market. His passion and knowledge of the financial markets have earned him a great reputation among his clientele.
Mr. Santini is a graduate from Concordia University. His interests include a deep passion for the stock market, hockey, tennis, and cooking. Beyond his professional and personal pursuits, he is a proud father of two wonderful children and three stepchildren. Furthermore, he generously donates his time to the Hockey Helps The Homeless, actively engaging in fundraising activities and delivering food and clothing to the homeless community in Montreal.
Roland Wood
Vice President, Sales – British Columbia and Alberta
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1-604-364-9874
rwood@starlightcapital.com
Roland Wood CFP, CIM®
Vice President, Sales – British Columbia and Alberta
Roland Wood joined Starlight Capital in September 2018 as Vice-President, Sales in British Columbia and Alberta.
Mr. Wood has expertise in an array of financial products and a great understanding of the needs of advisors and their investors. He has a solid track record of building successful relationships at asset management companies including Fiera Capital, Hartford Investments, and Franklin Templeton, and also worked at CIBC Imperial Services as a financial advisor.
Mr. Wood holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designations and has a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics degree from the University of Windsor.
Connor Chalk
Business Development Associate – Ontario
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647-995-4039
cchalk@starlightcapital.com
Connor Chalk
Business Development Associate – Ontario
Connor Chalk joined Starlight Capital in October 2023 as a Business Development Associate, partnering with Lou Russo servicing clients in Ontario.
Mr. Chalk is an accomplished finance professional with a proven track record in capital markets, financial consulting, and the Canadian banking sector. His deep knowledge of research methodologies and asset management strategies equips him with a unique perspective for navigating complex retail and institutional investments. He takes a consultative approach when partnering with advisors to cultivate relationships based on trust, knowledge, and dedication to their portfolios. Prior to joining Starlight, he worked at Henon Capital as an Associate Director of Business Development.
Mr. Chalk holds the Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC) and has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Economics degree from the University of Guelph.
Pawan Mahal
Business Development Associate – Ontario and Atlantic Canada
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226-505-2213
pmahal@starlightcapital.com
Pawan Mahal
Business Development Associate – Ontario and Atlantic Canada
Pawan Mahal joined Starlight Capital in October 2023 as a Business Development Associate, partnering with Alex Piorkowski servicing clients in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Mr. Mahal, drawing upon his background in capital markets, places a strong emphasis on client services and fostering relationships. His primary goal is to collaborate with financial advisors to identify innovative portfolio solutions that meet their specific needs. Prior to joining Starlight, he served as a Senior Account Specialist at Hybrid Financial, where he excelled in building key relationships within the financial services industry.
Mr. Mahal holds the Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC) and has a Bachelor’s degree in Management, Economics and Finance from the University of Guelph.
Angelis Prattas
Business Development Associate – Alberta and British Columbia
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647-241-8794
aprattas@starlightcapital.com
Angelis Prattas CFP
Business Development Associate – Alberta and British Columbia
Angelis Prattas joined Starlight Capital in October 2023 as a Business Development Associate, partnering with Roland Wood servicing clients in Alberta and British Columbia.
Mr. Prattas brings with him 4 years of experience in the financial services industry and a successful track record with building client relationships as a financial advisor. His background enables him to understand the needs of advisors to best serve their clients.
Mr. Prattas holds a Certified Financial Planner designation from FP Canada and has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University.
Sabrina Teed
Business Development Associate – Ontario, Manitoba & Saskatchewan
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1-416-409-1908
steed@starlightcapital.com
Sabrina Teed
Business Development Associate – Ontario, Manitoba & Saskatchewan
Sabrina Teed joined Starlight Capital in September 2022 as a Business Development Associate, partnering with Lou Russo servicing clients in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Ms. Teed, drawing on her experience in financial services, prioritizes client service and relationship development. Her goal is to partner with advisors to find creative solutions for portfolios. Prior to joining Starlight, she worked at Picton Mahoney Asset Management as a Business Development Associate managing relationships across Canada.
Ms. Teed holds the Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC) and has an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Guelph.
Finance, Operations and Corporate Services Team
Halcyon McIntosh
Vice President, Finance and Fund Services
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hmcintosh@starlightcapital.com
Halcyon McIntosh
Vice President, Finance and Fund Services
Halcyon Mclntosh joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Director, Finance and Fund Services and has progressed to her current role as Vice-President, Finance and Fund Services. She has more than 20 years of experience in the asset management industry focused on fund administration, accounting, investment operations and client service in both Canada and the US.
Ms. Mclntosh most recently held a leadership role at Sentry Investments as Director, Fund Administration and Client Service where she was instrumental in building and developing the fund accounting and fund administration teams contributing significantly to the growth and operational success of Sentry Investments.
Ms. Mclntosh has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the City University of New York – Baruch College.
Marco Drumonde
Vice President, Advisor and Investor Experience
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1-647-245-2045
mdrumonde@starlightcapital.com
Marco Drumonde
Vice President, Advisor and Investor Experience
Marco Drumonde joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Director, Advisor and Investor Experience and has progressed to his current role as Vice-President, Advisor and Investor Experience. He has more than 15 years of experience in the investment industry focused on operations and client service within both the investment manager and various distribution channels.
Mr. Drumonde most recently held a senior position with Sentry Investments where he served as Associate Vice-President, Advisor and Investor Services. He has a comprehensive range of experience across the financial industry with extensive knowledge in mutual funds, dealer operations and high net worth investment products and played a central role in revitalizing Sentry Investments’ client service and operational excellence. Prior to that, he worked at CI Investments as Manager, Private Client Service and Operations.
Mr. Drumonde has a Financial Planning Management Diploma from George Brown College.
Kristen Wallace
Manager, Business Operations
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Kristen Wallace
Manager, Business Operations
Kristen Wallace joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Executive Assistant and has progressed to her current role as Manager, Business Operations. She has more than 15 years of experience supporting C-Suite Executives, including more than 12 years of experience within the financial industry.
Ms. Wallace has held key support roles at Sprott Asset Management and Altacorp Capital, where she most recently served as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. In this capacity, she was instrumental in implementing organizational processes for Executives, overseeing executive reporting, and planning and managing strategic marketing campaigns and client events.
Ms. Wallace is a licensed Paralegal and a member of the Law Society of Ontario. She has a diploma in Paralegal Education and a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Seneca College.
Lotty Lin
Manager, Marketing
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llin@starlightcapital.com
Lotty Lin
Manager, Marketing
Lotty joined Starlight Capital in November 2022 as Manager, Marketing.
Ms. Lin is a marketing professional with a finance and marketing background. This combination of skills makes her a well-rounded marketing professional in the finance industry. She most recently held a position at a boutique Toronto-based investment management firm leading brand and digital marketing, and prior to that at Tricon Residential supporting rebrand, communications, and digital marketing, at Foote, Cone & Belding New York on a creative project for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and at the United Nations New York Headquarters as an analytics and business intelligence summer intern.
Ms. Lin has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Economics from the Rotman Commerce Program at the University of Toronto and a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing, Marketing Analytics from New York University, from both of which she graduated with high distinction.
Legal, HR, IT
Starlight Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starlight Investments. Starlight Investments is a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm with over 360 employees and $25B in AUM. A privately held owner, developer and asset manager of over 77,000 multiresidential suites and over 9 million square feet of commercial property space.
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