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). 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. Mr. Johnson currently serves as Chair, President and a trustee of the Upper Canada College Foundation and is also a trustee of the US based Upper Canada Educational Foundation.
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 Diradour
Chief Financial Officer
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Scharlet Diradour
Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Ms. Diradour 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. Diradour was an integral part of driving a full-scale operational process for Fiera Quantum Limited Partnership, an alternative investment manager. Previously, Ms. Diradour 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. Diradour received a BA Dipl. with Honours from Humber Business School, a BAS Specialized Honours from York University and a MFin from Queens University. Ms. Diradour has completed Level II of the CFA Program. Through Humber Business Schools Ms. Diradour 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. Diradour was also presented the Rosemary Brown Human Rights Award for outstanding academic achievement. Ms. Diradour 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 - Eastern Canada
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Patrick Yared
Senior Vice President, Sales - Eastern Canada
514-573-1500
pyared@evolveetfs.comMr. Yared is Senior Vice President, Sales Eastern Canada 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.
Phillip Mak
Head of Sales, Western Canada
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Phillip Mak
Head of Sales, Western Canada
778-628-2627
pmak@evolveetfs.comPhillip Mak is Head of Sales, Western Canada at Evolve ETFs where he leads the firm’s sales and distribution initiatives in Western Canada. Mr. Mak brings more than 15 years of experience in the global ETF industry having previously served as Vice President at CI Global Asset Management, Director at WisdomTree Canada, Vice President at BlackRock and Assistant Vice President at Horizons Exchange Traded Funds, Inc. From 2017 to 2021, Mr. Mak served in dual roles as Vice President and Director at CI supporting the firm’s sales efforts and establishing WisdomTree’s Canadian ETF business in Western Canada which was acquired by CI Financial in February 2020. Previously, Mr. Mak served as Vice President at BlackRock for 6 years where he oversaw sales and distribution of the iShares ETFs in British Columbia. Prior to joining BlackRock in December 2010, Mr. Mak was Assistant Vice President at Horizons Exchange Traded Funds, Inc. where he supported the growth of the firm’s strategies in Ontario. Mr. Mak began his career in 2004 at TD Bank Group working in progressive roles as a Financial Advisor and options-licensed Registered Representative. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the University of Toronto and is currently a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) candidate.
Sarah Leung
Vice President, Sales
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Sarah Leung
Vice President, Sales
416-505-3500
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.
Mark Evans
Vice President, Sales
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Mark Evans
Vice President, Sales
Mr. Evans brings more than fifteen years of proven experience in the Financial Services industry. With a deep understanding of financial markets, trade mechanics and business development, Mr. Evans has built key relationships with advisors across Ontario. Prior to joining Evolve, Mr. Evans worked as a Regional Sales Manager with BMO Global Asset Management, successfully marketing their Mutual Fund and ETF-based investment solutions. Prior to this, Mr. Evans held Senior Sales roles with other prominent Asset Management firms and as a licenced Financial Advisor within a private High-Net Worth Advisory practice in Toronto.
Steve Pate
Vice President, Head of Trading
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Steve Pate
Vice President, Head of Trading
416-593-5127
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.
Kaitlin Thompson, CFA
Vice President, Product Strategy
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Kaitlin Thompson, CFA
Vice President, Product Strategy
kthompson@evolveetfs.comKaitlin Thompson is Vice President of Product Strategy at Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Kaitlin was at Mackenzie Investments doing a variety of different roles. Most recently, she was a Business Development Manager in Retail Distribution covering downtown Toronto. Prior to her sales role, she was part of Mackenzie’s Business Management Rotational Program. The program included rotations in Marketing, Retail Distribution, Product and Operations. Kaitlin graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Queens University and is a CFA Charterholder.
Dianne Sison
Marketing Communications Manager
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Dianne Sison
Marketing Communications Manager
dsison@evolveetfs.comMs. Sison is the Marketing Communications Manager 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, as well as 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.
Cecilia Leung
Trading Operations Associate
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Cecilia Leung
Trading Operations Associate
Cecilia Leung is Trading Operations Associate at Evolve ETFs. She has 15 years of working experience in the financial sector focused on risk management, business analysis and trade operations in the capital markets in Toronto and Hong Kong. Prior to joining Evolve ETFs, Cecilia has worked in various business process initiatives in identifying and defining solutions that will maximize stakeholder’s value through projects in its technology and processes. Also, from her experience at Scotiabank and ICAP Securities Hong Kong Ltd, she has developed a strong knowledge in trading equities, fixed income, and derivative products. Cecilia graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce at York University and recently attained a certificate in Data Analytics at the University of Toronto.
Erica Thom
Finance Associate
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Erica Thom
Finance Associate
Erica Thom is a Finance Associate at Evolve ETFs. Ms. Thom participated in Brock University’s prestigious International Dual Degree program in which she achieved two Bachelor’s degrees in four years, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business Administration from Brock University and a Bachelor of Science with a focus in Finance from the European Business School (EBS) located near Frankfurt, Germany. While pursuing her degree in Germany, Ms. Thom worked for Deutsche Börse AG as a Business Strategy & Intelligence Analyst, where she consolidated ETF market data to help the STOXX Indices team better create index offerings for ETF creation. She then wrote her Bachelor’s Thesis on ETFs, in which she applied advanced statistical concepts and in-depth market knowledge in order to compare the price efficiency of the world’s largest ETF providers. Prior to joining Evolve, Ms. Thom spent nearly 2 years with State Street Bank International where she worked for the Global Treasury department as an Officer in Interest Rate Risk Management. She then worked for Euclid Transactional as a M&A Analyst where she supported the underwriting process for representations and warranties insurance by identifying the risks associated with a transaction through the review of a target’s financial statements, business model, and associated share purchase agreement.
Sage Ladd
Graphic Designer
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Sage Ladd
Graphic Designer
Sage Ladd is the Graphic Designer for Evolve ETFs. Prior to joining Evolve, he has developed a diverse skill set in graphic design and multimedia serving public, private and not-for-profit organizations for their marketing and communication needs. Sage graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University, focusing in Advertising Art Direction. He volunteers his design skills to an array of non-for-profits, loves art and design, and his motorcycle, “Suki”.