Mergence

Close

Masimo-a-badimo Magerman

Managing Director

B MSc (Fin), MBA (Fin)

Masimo worked as a financial data analyst on Wall Street for a subsidiary of Thompson Financial from 1995 to 1997. He returned to do his MBA (Finance) at Rudgers University, New Jersey. After graduating, he joined Merrill Lynch in London on the convertible bonds desk in 1999. He returned to South Africa to run an equity derivatives book at Gensec Bank. Masimo uses his experience in equity derivatives to manage absolute return funds at Mergence.

Close

Fabian De Beer

Chief Investment Officer, Director

B Com, H.Dip.Ed

Fabian obtained his B Com at UWC majoring in Accounting and Economics, followed by a post graduate H.Dip.Ed. Fabian has extensive experience in the financial markets and held a number of senior/executive management positions during his working career: headed the Group ALM function at Standard Bank/SCMB operating within its Treasury; senior manager of ALM / risk assessment at Eskom Treasury; senior positions at the Eskom Pension Fund of which most of his time was spent heading Investment Multi-Management and playing a major role in investment and portfolio strategy and asset allocation; joined Brait SA where he was lead investment manager for its Fund of Hedge Funds and an Executive Director of Brait SA.

Close

Brandon Furstenburg

Chief Operating Officer

B Com Hons, MCom, MSc (Finance)

Brandon worked in the pension fund consulting and investment banking industries before moving to National Treasury in 2003. As Director of financial services at National Treasury he was responsible for financial law and policy focusing pension funds, long term insurance and market conduct issues. He worked closely with the FSB for 5 years and on the pension reform process. Brandon joined Liberty Life in 2008 as Head of Pension Reform Strategy and joined Mergence as from 1 January 2010 as Chief Operating Officer. He holds a BCom (Hons) and MCom in economics from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as an MSc in finance from the University of London. For 10 years, he also lectured students in mathematical economics and econometrics part time for an NGO which facilitates tertiary education for senior executives of parastatals, trade unions and government.

Close

Bongani Jack

Head: Institutional Sales, Director

BTech (Marketing), AFP, COP (Retirement Funding)

Bongani Jack has spent 15 years in the financial services environment working for one of the leading companies in the financial services industry. He fulfilled various roles in the consultants & actuaries division, institutional sales executive for an Employee Benefits Division, and manager of corporate social investment department and transformation. He completed a BTech Marketing Degree, AFP and COP. He is currently busy with an MTech in Marketing, where he's already completed his course work. Bongani joined Mergence as head of institutional sales in 2009. He is very involved in his community and their development activities where he serves as president of a national non-profit organization.

Close

Masimo-a-badimo Magerman

Portfolio Manager

B MSc (Fin), MBA (Fin)

Masimo worked as a financial data analyst on Wall Street for a subsidiary of Thompson Financial from 1995 to 1997. He returned to do his MBA (Finance) at Rudgers University, New Jersey. After graduating, he joined Merrill Lynch in London on the convertible bonds desk in 1999. He returned to South Africa to run an equity derivatives book at Gensec Bank. Masimo uses his experience in equity derivatives to manage absolute return funds at Mergence.

Close

Bradley Preston

Head: Quantitative Analysis

BSc Hons, MSc (Financial Mathematics)

Brad completed his BSc (Hons) in mathematics at the University of Cape Town with distinction. He has completed his MSc in financial mathematics at UCT with his thesis on "Basket option pricing with non-normal returns". Brad focuses on the development, maintenance and enhancement of quant models used at Mergence. He heads up the quantitative analysts and acts as an assistant portfolio manager on the absolute return fund.

Close

Zwelakhe Mnguni

Head: Equities and Portfolio Manager

B Com Hons (UCT), M Com (Finance)

Zwelakhe Mnguni has been in the financial services for 10 years. He started his career as an intern at Cadiz Holdings. After two years at Cadiz, he joined Allan Gray as an equity analyst for a four year period. More recently, he held the positions of equity analyst and co-fund manager of the Stanlib Value Funds. During his tenure at Stanlib, Zwelakhe was ardently involved in the creation of the new investment process that successfully delivered alpha for the major institutional and retail funds.

Close

Zihle Nonganga

Equity Analyst

B Com Hons

Zihle joined Mergence as an equity analyst in 2009. Prior to joining Mergence she spent a few years at Old Mutual as part of their Accelerate Program. She was promoted to the Long Term Equity boutique as an investment analyst. At Mergence she is an active member of the investment team and her focus area is Consumer Goods. She is currently studying towards a CFA qualification.

Close

Chitongwa Siame

Equity Analyst

BSc (Hons), ACCA

Chito holds a BSc (Hons) in accounting and he is a chartered certified accountant. Before completing a Masters in Financial Management in 2010, he gained invaluable experience in internal control (Sarbanes Oxley Compliance), audit and management consulting. Chito joined the Mergence investment team as an equity analyst during 2011.

Close

Karl Gevers

Equity Analyst

B Com (Hons), CA (SA)

Karl qualified as a chartered accountant at Moore Stephens in Cape Town in 2006. Since then, Karl spent 4 years in London at Blue Bay Asset Management and more recently, at Lonrho Plc as investment analyst. Karl returned to South Africa and joined the Mergence team as an equity analyst in 2010. He plays an active role within the investment team where he's focused on equity research.

Close

Izak van Niekerk

Equity Analyst

B Acc (Hons), CA (SA)

Izak is a qualified chartered accountant and prior to joining Mergence he spent two years at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Johannesburg as an audit manager for financial services clients in the Banking and Capital Markets division. Izak joined Mergence as an equity analyst in 2011. He plays an active role within the investment team where his focus is on equity research.

Close

Mark van Wyk

Portfolio Manager - SRI Debt

B Com (Hons), (CA) SA

Mark has 11 years' experience in development finance, structured finance, external auditing and property management. Always keen to increase his knowledge base, Mark is currently registered for CFA 3, which he expects to complete in 2011. With is extensive experience and skill in the field of debt funding, Mark has worked with Mergence during the past 18 months to identify appropriate opportunities for the Mergence High Impact Debt Fund. Mark has recently joined the Mergence team on a more regular basis to source, model and manage the entire Mergence SRI product offering.

Close

Masimo-a-badimo Magerman

Portfolio Manager

B MSc (Fin), MBA (Fin)

Masimo worked as a financial data analyst on Wall Street for a subsidiary of Thompson Financial from 1995 to 1997. He returned to do his MBA (Finance) at Rudgers University, New Jersey. After graduating, he joined Merrill Lynch in London on the convertible bonds desk in 1999. He returned to South Africa to run an equity derivatives book at Gensec Bank. Masimo uses his experience in equity derivatives to manage absolute return funds at Mergence.

Close

Dirk Steyn

Risk Manager

BSc, B Eng and MSc (Financial Mathematics)

Dirk joined Mergence in April 2007 while completing a Masters in Financial Mathematics at University of Cape Town. From July 2008, he has fulfilled the role of risk manager at Mergence.  Prior to studying Financial Mathematics, Dirk has gained over 8 years experience managing and developing back office systems at international blue chip companies. The last two years working on treasury and gas trading systems at a FTSE listed Oil and Gas major in the UK before returning to South Africa.

Close

Jaison Pedzisai Madume

Quantitative & Data Analyst

BSc Hons (Statistics), MPhil (Mathematical Finance)

Jaison completed his BSc (Hons) in statistics at the University of Zimbabwe with distinction. He recently completed his MPhil in Mathematical Finance at the University of Cape Town (again with distinction). His thesis titled "Covariance estimation methods for constrained portfolio optimization in a South African setting" was awarded a distinction. Prior to his MPhil studies he worked with Old Mutual Zimbabwe as a costing and risk management officer. Jaison recently joined Mergence where he's responsible for data and model maintenance.

Close

Waleed Samsodien

Investment Operations Specialist

B Com (Hons)

Waleed completed his BCom (Hons) degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 2007. He joined the financial services industry in 2008 at Maitland Asset Management, where he was involved in investment operations and analytical support. Waleed joined the Mergence team in November 2011.

Close

Samantha Davids

Investment Operations Specialist

Samantha joined the financial services industry in 2005 at State Street South Africa. Starting out as a personal assistant, Sam managed to gain invaluable experience at other companies such as JP Morgan, Sanlam Multi Manager and Shell SA where she fulfilled a variety of positions from trade support administrator, dematerialisation of the money market specialist and finally managing the project flight plan in the mergers and acquisition area. Sam managed to complete both a Business Management & Administration Certification and a Plumbline Financial Series Certification with exemption. She recently joined the Mergence team and apart from completing a Project Management Professional Certification, she manages to dedicate some of her spare time to manage smaller projects in order to raise awareness about philanthropy work amongst the youth.

Close

Bongani Jack

Head: Institutional Sales, Director

BTech (Marketing), AFP, COP (Retirement Funding)

Bongani Jack has spent 15 years in the financial services environment working for one of the leading companies in the financial services industry. He fulfilled various roles in the consultants & actuaries division, institutional sales executive for an Employee Benefits Division, and manager of corporate social investment department and transformation. He completed a BTech Marketing Degree, AFP and COP. He is currently busy with an MTech in Marketing, where he's already completed his course work. Bongani joined Mergence as head of institutional sales in 2009. He is very involved in his community and their development activities where he serves as president of a national non-profit organization.

Close

Ronel Bantjes

Business Development Manager

BCom, BA (Fine Arts)

Ronel began her career in the asset management industry in 1995 by joining Goldman Sachs in London. Upon her return, she joined Coronation Fund Managers in 1997. During 2003 to 2008, she held the position of business development manager at African Harvest Fund Managers and Sygnia Asset Management. Her interest in marketing led her to join the RisCura marketing team during 2008. However, she was lured back to business development by Peregrine iQ in 2009, where after she joined Mergence as business development manager in June 2010 in order to combine the two functions again focusing on client retention, product development, the institutional business growth and marketing strategy.

Close

Farzaanah Richards

Office Manager

Farzaanah has accumulated experience in various public relations, marketing and sales positions, including Tygervalley Centre management and Old Mutual. She has completed personal assistant courses and is currently busy completing her National Diploma in Public Relations and Marketing through the University of South Africa.

Close

Nuraan Manuel

PA & Reception

Nuraan has completed personal assistant course and has filled various retail positions for a number of reputable firms over the years. She joined us in November 2009.

Close

Sade Vetter

Personal Assistant

Sade relocated from Mergence Africa Capital in Johannesburg to join the Mergence team in Cape Town during January 2011. She was introduced to the financial services industry as personal assistant and officer manager at MSV Holdings during 2008. Prior to this, Sade started her career at Canon SA in 2004, where she was promoted from personal assistant to sales consultant over a period of four years. Being a motivated individual, Sade aims to enrol with UNISA for a BCom Degree next year.