Our People
Our People
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Barry Gordon is the Managing Director, Head of Retail Asset Management, Guardian Capital LP (Guardian). His mandate includes the responsibility to develop and execute the firm’s strategy in respect of the origination, distribution and marketing, and operations of investment solutions addressing the needs of retail investors.
Barry began his career in the financial services industry in 1997. Directly prior to joining Guardian, he was a Partner at Blindspot Inc. making investments in early stage wealth-tech companies. From 2003 – 2017, Barry was the Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Asset Capital Corp. which he successfully steered throughout the retail landscape. Under his leadership, First Asset evolved into a highly credible and competitive, independent Canadian ETF company. Upon acquisition by CI Investments in 2015, it managed over $3 billion of assets, and the firm continues today to formulate the core strategy for CI’s ETF business with more than $8.5 billion AUM.
Barry graduated with a Law degree from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from Queen’s University.
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Chris Winchell
Senior Vice-President, Head of Distribution, Canadian Retail Asset Management - Guardian Capital LP
Read BioChris Winchell is Senior Vice-President and Head of Distribution, Canadian Retail Asset Management at Guardian Capital LP (Guardian Capital). He joined Guardian Capital in 2003. Since that time, Chris has taken on progressively more senior roles, assuming his current position in 2023, with the responsibility to apply his proven leadership skills in support of ongoing relationship building and the expansion and reach of the Canadian Retail Asset Management team and its investment solutions.
His career in the financial services industry began in 1997, when he joined Guardian Group of Funds as a client service representative, subsequently transitioning into sales roles. His first role with GCLP was as Regional Sales Manager, and subsequently, he was promoted to Vice President, Investment Services in 2011.
Chris is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario.
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Adam Murl, CFA, MIA
Vice President, Retail Research and Lead Solutions Architect - Guardian Capital LP
Read BioAdam Murl is Vice President of Retail Research and Lead Solutions Architect, Canadian Retail Asset Management, for Guardian Capital LP (GCLP). He joined GCLP in 2020, and has responsibility for developing, researching and monitoring investment solutions for retail asset management.
Adam began his career in the financial services industry in 1999, when he joined Credit Suisse in equity sales. In the years following, his roles have included Principal, Equity Research at OMERS, and Portfolio Manager, US Equities for Cumberland Private Wealth Management. Directly prior to joining GCLP, Adam was Head of Research and Portfolio Manager, Global Tactical Asset Allocation, for Equium Capital Management (a boutique investment firm).
Adam graduated from Queen’s University with a B.Comm degree. He earned his Master in International Affairs (International Finance) from Columbia University, New York, NY; Adam is a CFA® charterholder.
Funds Under Management
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Scott Perfonic, CIM
Vice President, Investment Solutions and Head of Affiliated Distribution - Guardian Capital LP
Read BioScott Perfonic is Vice President, Investment Solutions and Head of Affiliated Distribution for Guardian Capital LP (GCLP). He joined GCLP in 2015 with a focus on growing our retail intermediary relationships in BC, and assumed his current role in 2020.
His career in the financial services industry began in 2001, when he joined Raymond James Ltd. He held positions with responsibility for growth, development and operations of their fee-based programs. As well, he worked with a high-profile Raymond James investment advisory team.
Scott graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology with a Diploma of Technology in Financial Management. He has obtained his Canadian Investment Management (CIM) designation.
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Robin Lacey is Head of Institutional Asset Management, Guardian Capital Group Limited. His mandate includes the responsibility to expand and develop the strategic capabilities and activities of Guardian’s various institutional business units: Guardian Capital LP, GuardCap Asset Management Limited, Guardian Capital LLC, Guardian Capital Real Estate Inc. and the Systematic Strategies investment team.
Robin’s career spans over 30 years. As an experienced asset management senior executive, he brings to Guardian a record of cross-functional success in business leadership, multi-regional operations, sales and distribution management and team building. Directly prior to joining Guardian, he was an SVP of Scotiabank and Head, Global Institutional Asset Management, responsible for initiating the strategic plan to build and grow the Bank’s institutional asset management capability. He was recruited to Scotiabank after nine successful years at TD Asset Management, ultimately in the role of Vice Chair. Prior to this, Robin spent over 15 years developing his leadership and industry experience with JP Morgan Asset Management and predecessor firms. In 1996 he was seconded from the head office in London, UK, and arrived in Canada as President & Chief Executive Officer of Fleming Asset Management (Canada) Inc.
Robin graduated with a degree in Economics and Modern Languages from the University of Northumbria, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. He speaks multiple languages including English, French, Spanish and German.
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Bob Leahy
Director, Northeast Region - Alta Capital Management LLC
bleahy@guardiancapital.comRead Bio
603-498-6227Bob Leahy is Director, Northeast Region for Alta Capital Management LLC (Alta). He became part of the Alta team in 2019 and has responsibility for business development in the Northeast Region of the United States.
Bob brings more than 25 years of investment industry experience. His career in the financial services industry began in 1993 when he joined NATIXIS. Directly prior to joining Alta, Bob was Director Northeast Regional Manager, Broker Sales at AMG Funds. Bob was responsible for the business development in the Broker Dealer Channel, Northeast region.
Bob received a Bachelor degree in Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst campus.
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Joe Reid
Director, Central Region - Alta Capital Management LLC
jreid@guardiancapital.comRead Bio
312-498-1346Joe Reid is the Director, Central Region, for Alta Capital Management LLC (Alta). He became part of the Alta team in 2018 with the acquisition of Alta by Guardian Capital Group (Guardian). Joe joined Guardian in 2016 and has responsibility for business development in the Central Region of the United States.
His career in the financial services industry began in 1998 when he joined the AIM Family of Funds. Prior to joining Guardian, Joe was a partner and Managing Director at Aston Asset Management where he was directly responsible for mutual fund business development in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Joe joined Aston’s predecessor firm, ABN AMRO in 1999.
Joe received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Texas Christian University and holds Series 6, 7 and 63 securities licenses.
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David Robinow
Director, Western Region - Alta Capital Management LLC
drobinow@guardiancapital.comRead Bio
415-786-9981David Robinow is the Director, Western Region, for Alta Capital Management LLC (Alta). David is focused on the US Western Region for Alta. He became part of the Alta team in 2018 with the acquisition of Alta by Guardian Capital Group Limited. He joined Guardian in 2016 and is responsible for building and servicing financial intermediary relationships in the Western United States.
He brings more than 20 years of investment industry experience to his role. Prior to joining Guardian, David was a partner with Aston Asset Management, as well as holding numerous sales consulting positions with Callan Associates and Charles Schwab.
David received his Business Economics degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds his Series 6, 7 and 63 FINRA licenses.
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Keith Schwartz
Director, Southeast Region - Alta Capital Management LLC
kschwartz@guardiancapital.comRead Bio
561-430-3455Keith Schwartz is the Director, Southeast Region, for Alta Capital Management LLC (Alta). He became part of the Alta team in 2018 with the acquisition of Alta by Guardian Capital Group (Guardian). He joined Guardian in 2016 and is responsible for building and servicing financial intermediary relationships in the Southeast United States.
Keith brings more than 22 years of investment industry experience to his role. His career in the financial services industry began in 1994 when he joined Merrill Lynch. Directly prior to joining Guardian, Keith held a similar position with Affiliated Managers Group and its predecessor firm Aston Asset Management.
Keith graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in both Finance and Economics.
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Mark Noble, MA
Senior Vice President, Retail Strategy and Sales Enablement - Guardian Capital LP
Read BioMark Noble is Senior Vice President, Retail Strategy and Sales Enablement for Guardian Capital LP (Guardian). He joined Guardian in 2023 with a mandate to help grow our retail asset management business by working with portfolio management teams on investor engagement and helping to build out sales strategy and content creation.
As a journalist with the Advisor Group for Rogers Publishing, Mark began covering the financial services industry in 2007. Subsequently, in 2010, he transitioned into asset management when he joined Horizons ETFs, and held progressively senior roles, finishing his tenure there as Executive Vice President of ETF Strategy, before joining Guardian.
Mark graduated with an honours bachelor’s degree in political studies from Trent University and earned an MA in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario.
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Z. Edward Akkawi is Vice President, Retail Asset Management for Guardian Capital LP (Guardian). He joined Guardian in 2023 and is part of the team responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of Guardian’s retail asset management business. Edward also works with Guardian’s legal, operations and compliance teams on a variety of team-specific initiatives and projects.
His career in the financial services industry began in 2000 when he joined First Asset Investment Management Inc. In his career, Edward has held the roles of Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Directly prior to joining Guardian, he was a consultant in financial services and served as an Independent Review Committee member.
Edward graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. He has been called to the Bar in Ontario.