Michael Waring, CEO, Chief Investment Officer and Director
Before forming Galileo in 2000, Michael served from 1985 to 1999 as a vice-president, director and portfolio manager at KBSH Capital Management Inc., a private investment management firm with over $10 billion under management. Michael obtained his MBA from the University of Western Ontario, is a CFA charter holder and a member of the Toronto CFA Society.
Joe MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Joe MacDonald has been a financial services executive for over 30 years. He started his career in the insurance industry, and then joined Mackenzie Financial Corporation where he spent 10 years as Vice President involved in all facets of the mutual fund business. He also served in the startup of O’Donnell Investment Management, a Canadian mutual fund company, and led YMG Capital Management’s mutual fund business. Before joining Galileo, Joe served as Executive Vice-President at Calgary-based Citadel Group of Funds. Joe is a Board member on the Investment and Finance Committee at Kings University College at the University of Western Ontario (where he graduated with a BA in economics and political science) and, previously served on the Board of Directors of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada.
Michael Wekerle, Managing Partner
Mr. Wekerle was a co-founder of Griffiths McBurney (now GMP) where he served from 1995 to 2011. He is widely considered a leading investment advisor in Canada and during his time at GMP, helped establish the firm’s hedge fund, institutional trading desk and a reputation for assisting clients in profiting from large-scale transactions. The Globe and Mail newspaper described Mr. Wekerle as one of Bay Street’s legendary investment traders.
Stephen Craig, Managing Partner
Mr. Craig served as Managing Director and Head Trader at Salida Capital, one of Canada’s oldest and most established natural resources investment firms, from 2003 to 2011 where he was responsible for execution management for multiple portfolio managers and strategies. A Bay Street veteran with almost 30 years’ experience, Mr. Craig also served as partner and head trader at J Zechner Associates, and as institutional sales trader at First Marathon Securities, First Boston and Wood Gundy.
Paul Sparkes, Managing Partner
Mr. Sparkes is an accomplished business leader with executive experience in both the private and public sectors. Most recently, he served as CTVglobemedia’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Previously, he held senior positions in the public service, including Director of Operations and Special Assistant for Atlantic Canada in the Office of the Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001 and Executive Assistant to the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1989 to 1996. He is also active as a director of several organizations including the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (“LCBO”), the National Arts Centre Foundation, the Smiling Land Foundation and serves as an advisory board member for the Belinda Stronach Foundation.
Evelyn Foo, Chief Financial Officer
Evelyn oversees the financial, operational and compliance of the firm’s overall business. She graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and became a Chartered Accountant in 1991 after serving at Coopers & Lybrand. Over the past 20 years, Evelyn has served in senior capacities at Templeton Management Inc., where she was Controller, Mutual Fund operations, Investors, Bank & Trust Company (General Manager, Canadian Operations), Toronto-Dominion Bank (Senior Manager, External Fund Services) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Senior Director, CIBC Mutual Funds). She became CFO of Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc. in 2009 and is a member of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada.
Leyland Gordon, Vice-President & Regional Sales Manager
Leyland began his investment career at Fidelity Investments Canada in 2000. Subsequently, he was a Business Development Manager at Synergy Asset Management, Wealth Advisor at Scotia McLeod, Associate Sales Director at AEGON Canada and Vice-President & Alternative Strategies Consultant at Front Street Capital. Leyland holds an Honours Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Toronto.
Mike McCullough, Head Trader/Analyst
Mike has successfully completed Level 1 of the CFA program and has over thirteen years of experience in the investment industry, earned at Laketon Investment Management and Altamira Management Ltd. He is currently pursuing his CMT designation. He has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University.
Jackie Daye, Assistant Trader
Jackie joined Galileo in 2005 after completing her commerce degree at St. Mary’s University in Halifax. She provides market intelligence to the head trader and portfolio managers. While at Galileo, Jackie completed the Canadian Securities Course offered by the Canadian Securities Institute.
Stephanie Beirne, Associate
Stephanie serves Galileo in various capacities, including marketing and advisor relations. She has an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto.