A team of dedicated and proven experts

Sebastian is Founder and Partner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, where he is responsible for ensuring that the investment philosophy, process and disciplines at VB and VBGD are properly implemented, resourced and incented. J. Sebastian is a member of the Executive Management Committee and a significant shareholder of Van Berkom.

Prior to founding Van Berkom and Associates Inc. in 1991, J. Sebastian started his investment career at the Bell Canada Pension Fund (1971-1979).  He became a Partner of LRM Investment Management (1979-1984). He co-founded Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. (1984-1991).

Sebastian holds a B.Comm. from Concordia University (1970) and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (honoris causa) from Concordia University (2017). In 2024, he was appointed as an Officer of the Ordre de Montréal.

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Mathieu is Partner, President and Senior Portfolio Manager, U.S. Small Cap Equities, where he is responsible for all the investment decisions related to this product and for the management of the U.S. Equity Team, and for conducting research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap equity market. Mathieu is a member of the Executive Management Committee, a member of the Board of Directors and a significant shareholder of Van Berkom.

He became President of Van Berkom and Associates Inc. in 2021. In 2007, he was promoted to the position of Senior Portfolio Manager for Van Berkom U.S. Small-Cap Equities, and prior to that, he was part of the U.S. Small-Cap Equity Team since joining the company in 2000.

Mathieu is a CFA Charterholder (2003) and holds a M.Sc., Finance from HEC Montreal (2001).

Patrick is Partner and Chief Operating officer. He is responsible for overseeing most operational departments of our firm, making sure that each department is managed according to best practices and is scalable to successfully handle future growth. He also significatively contributes to the elaboration and execution of our growth strategy. He is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Prior to joining VBA, Patrick was Executive Vice President at Optimum Holdings (2009-2021), a division of the Optimum Group that owns four companies, including Optimum Asset Management. Previously, he was Vice-President, Eastern Canada at Standard Life Investments (2000-2009).

Patrick is a CFA Charterholder (2007) and holds a M.Sc. Economics (Finance) from the University of Montreal (1996).

Owen is Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager for the U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy at Van Berkom. He is responsible for all investment decisions related to this product, the management of the U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy Team, and for the research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap and mid-cap equity markets. Owen is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Before that role, Owen was a Portfolio Manager for our U.S. Small Cap Equities. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2009, Owen worked as a buy-side and sell-side Investment Analyst for Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Asset Management and, most recently, as Vice-President, Global Equities at Natcan Investment Management Inc.

Owen holds a MPhil, International Relations from the University of Oxford (1997).

Gabriel is Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager, leading the Canadian small-cap equity team since January 1st 2021, with responsibility for all the investment decisions related to this product and its team and conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the Canadian small-cap market. Gabriel is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Previously, he was respectively Partner, Portfolio Manager for the Canadian Small Cap Equities at Van Berkom and Partner and Senior Analyst for the Canadian Small Cap Equities. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2011, Gabriel was an Analyst, Canadian Equities at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) Investments and Pension Fund Division (2008-2011). Before that role, he was a Senior Associate at Deloitte’s Assurance & Advisory Practice in Ottawa (2005-2008).

Gabriel holds a Bachelor of Commerce (summa cum laude) from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa (2005). He is a Chartered Accountant (2008) and CFA Charterholder (2009). Gabriel also currently serves on the Board of the Cercle de finance et placement du Québec, having previously served as its President. Between 2014 and 2021, he was the recipient of the Brendan Wood International Top Gun award (Platinum Class).

Zhuo is Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Van Berkom Global Small Cap Strategy, where he is responsible for all the investment decisions related to this product and for the management of the Global Small-Cap Team, and for conducting research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap equity market.

Zhuo joined VB in 2012 as Partner, Senior Analyst, Asia Small Cap Equities for Van Berkom Golden Dragon Limited (“VBGD”) in Hong Kong. In 2017, he was promoted to Partner, Senior Analyst, U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy where he is responsible for conducting fundamental research on U.S. small-cap and mid-cap stocks. In 2021, Zhuo was promoted to Senior Portfolio Manager and mandated with launching the Global Small Cap Strategy at Van Berkom.

Prior to joining Van Berkom , Zhuo also worked at Rothschild & Sons Canada Ltée in M&A/Restructuring Advisory (2010-2012).

Zhuo graduated with Honours (2011) and is a Calvin Potter Fellow from the John Molson School of Business, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance with a Minor in Economics. He is a CFA Charterholder (2014) and since May 2024, a member of our Executive Management Committee.

Mathieu is Partner, President and Senior Portfolio Manager, U.S. Small Cap Equities, where he is responsible for all the investment decisions related to this product and for the management of the U.S. Equity Team, and for conducting research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap equity market. Mathieu is a member of the Executive Management Committee, a member of the Board of Directors and a significant shareholder of Van Berkom.

He became President of Van Berkom and Associates Inc. in 2021. In 2007, he was promoted to the position of Senior Portfolio Manager for Van Berkom U.S. Small-Cap Equities, and prior to that, he was part of the U.S. Small-Cap Equity Team since joining the company in 2000.

Mathieu is a CFA Charterholder (2003) and holds a M.Sc., Finance from HEC Montreal (2001).

Owen is Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager for the U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy at Van Berkom. He is responsible for all investment decisions related to this product, the management of the U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy Team, and for the research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap and mid-cap equity markets. Owen is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Before that role, Owen was the Portfolio Manager for our U.S. Small-Cap Equities. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2009, Owen worked as a buy-side and sell-side Investment Analyst for Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Asset Management and, most recently, as Vice-President, Global Equities at Natcan Investment Management Inc.

Owen holds a MPhil, International Relations from the University of Oxford (1997).

Lawrence is Director, Managing Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Greater China Growth Strategy at Van Berkom Golden Dragon Limited in Hong Kong (“VBGD”). He is responsible for developing and organizing the business plan for this operation, he takes all the investment decisions related to this product and manages the team assigned to the Greater China Growth Strategy, conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the Greater China market.

Before that role, Lawrence was a Partner at Van Berkom in Montreal, accumulating almost a decade of experience managing U.S. and Canadian small-cap equities. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2004, Lawrence worked for the EAFE equity team at Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited in Montreal.

Lawrence is a CFA Charterholder (2006).

Gabriel is Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager, leading the Canadian small-cap equity team since January 1st 2021, with responsibility for all the investment decisions related to this product and its team and conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the Canadian small-cap market. Gabriel is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Previously, he was respectively Partner, Portfolio Manager for the Canadian Small Cap Equities at Van Berkom and Partner and Senior Analyst for the Canadian Small Cap Equities. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2011, Gabriel was an Analyst, Canadian Equities at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) Investments and Pension Fund Division (2008-2011). Before that role, he was a Senior Associate at Deloitte’s Assurance & Advisory Practice in Ottawa (2005-2008).

Gabriel holds a Bachelor of Commerce (summa cum laude) from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa (2005). He is a Chartered Accountant (2008) and CFA Charterholder (2009). Gabriel also currently serves on the Board of the Cercle de finance et placement du Québec, having previously served as its President. Between 2014 and 2021, he was the recipient of the Brendan Wood International Top Gun award (Platinum Class).

Zhuo is Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Van Berkom Global Small Cap Strategy, where he is responsible for all the investment decisions related to this product and for the management of the Global Small-Cap Team, and for conducting research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small-cap equity market.

Zhuo joined VB in 2012 as Partner, Senior Analyst, Asia Small Cap Equities for Van Berkom Golden Dragon Limited (“VBGD”) in Hong Kong. In 2017, he was promoted to Partner, Senior Analyst, U.S. Small-Mid Cap Strategy where he is responsible for conducting fundamental research on U.S. small-cap and mid-cap stocks. In 2021, Zhuo was promoted to Senior Portfolio Manager and mandated with launching the Global Small Cap Strategy at Van Berkom.

Prior to joining Van Berkom , Zhuo also worked at Rothschild & Sons Canada Ltée in M&A/Restructuring Advisory (2010-2012).

Zhuo graduated with Honours (2011) and is a Calvin Potter Fellow from the John Molson School of Business, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance with a Minor in Economics. He is a CFA Charterholder (2014) and since May 2024, a member of our Executive Management Committee.

Ammar is responsible for conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of U.S. small-cap stocks. Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2009, he worked as an Equity Analyst at Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. in Montreal (2007-2009). He has also worked in the Investment Banking (2005-2007) and Credit Rating industries (2004-2005).

Julien was promoted to this position in January 2022.  He joined Van Berkom in May 2015 as a Research Intern. In July 2016, he was promoted to Research Analyst, U.S. and Canadian Small Cap Equities. In December 2017, he was promoted to Research Analyst, U.S. Small Cap Equities.  In March 2019, he was promoted to Analyst, U.S. Small Cap Equities. He is responsible for conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small cap equity market. Julien holds a Master of Science (“MSc”) in Finance from the HEC Montréal School of Management at the University of Montréal. Prior to joining Van Berkom, he was an Analyst for the “Standard Life – HEC Montréal” student investment fund (2014-2015). He is a CFA Charterholder (2020).

Vlad Dumitru is Trader and was promoted to this position in January 2022. He joined Van Berkom in August 2020 as Junior Trader. He is responsible for executing Canadian, U.S. and Global equity transactions, as well as providing market intelligence to our portfolio managers. Vlad is also assisting in the development and implementation of new trading tools.

Prior to joining Van Berkom, Vlad was a Trading Analyst as well as a Portfolio Administrator at PSP Investments (2018-2020). Vlad holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Major in Finance) and (Minor in Data Intelligence) from Concordia University (2019). He is also a CFA Level II candidate.

Melissa joined Van Berkom in 2022 and is responsible for conducting fundamental research across sectors and geographies with an emphasis on the EAFE region.

Prior to joining Van Berkom, Melissa was a Principal at Sagard Holdings, where she played a key role in the due diligence, execution, and portfolio management of several private market FinTech investments. She held several Board Observer roles during her time at Sagard. In addition, she supported M&A activity and other corporate development initiatives.

Prior to Sagard, Melissa worked in equity research at CDPQ, focusing her time on Financial Services investments on a global basis. While at CDPQ, she spent 6 months in London working with the Direct Private Equity team on European investments. Melissa was also an Analyst at Montrusco Bolton, for the Global Equity and Canadian Small Cap funds. She started her career at BCA Research conducting macroeconomic research for Fixed Income investment strategies.

Melissa graduated with Honours and as a Calvin Potter Fellow from the John Molson School of Business, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance with a Minor in Economics. She is a CFA Charterholder.

Since 2022, Melissa is a Board Member of Credit Canada Debt Solutions, a financial literacy and debt management not-for-profit based in Ontario.

Karim joined Van Berkom in 2022 and is responsible for conducting fundamental research across sectors and geographies with an emphasis on the EAFE region.

Karim joined Van Berkom from CDPQ where he was a Director in the Global Financial Services team. He led numerous equity investments, where he conducted in-depth fundamental research on a global basis. In addition to his primary responsibilities, he played a key role in establishing the investment strategy for the Financial Services sector across various global equity mandates. He also collaborated with teams in the Private Equity, Private Debt and Capital Solutions asset classes in the due diligence of complex transactions in the life, P&C, specialty insurance, and insurtech sectors.

Prior to CDPQ, Karim was a Senior Investment Officer at the CN Pension Fund where he covered various sectors. He also established and executed an options strategy for the Canadian portfolio. Before joining the CN Pension Fund, Karim was a Management Consultant with Bain & Company, based in their Dubai office, where he advised senior executives in different sectors and for mandates related to strategy, operations, and management systems. Prior to that, Karim held various junior roles in buy-side firms.

Karim graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Finance from the John Molson School of Business, a Master of Science in Finance (First Class Honours) from the University of Reading’s ICMA Centre (United Kingdom), and an MBA from INSEAD (France and Singapore). He is also a CFA Charterholder and he earned a Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute in June 2024.

Alex was promoted to this position in January 2022.  He joined Van Berkom in May 2014 as a Research Intern. In May 2015, he was promoted to Research Analyst, U.S. and Canadian Small Cap Equities, and in December 2017, he was promoted to Research Analyst, U.S. Small Cap Equities. In March 2019, he was promoted to Analyst, U.S. Small Cap Equities. He is responsible for conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the U.S. small cap equity market. Prior to joining Van Berkom, Alex worked at CIBC World Markets as a Junior Research Associate.  He is also a graduate of the John Molson School of Business (“JMSB”) at Concordia University, where he is a Calvin Potter Fellow.

Philip joined Van Berkom in March 2020. He is responsible for managing our trading department and to ensure that our firm becomes a true market leader in terms of best trading practices and the quality of its trading execution for all of its investment strategies.

Prior to joining Van Berkom, Philip was Senior Equity Trader at Fiera Capital Corporation (2012-2020). Previously, he was Equity Trader at Natcan Investment Management (2008-2012). Philip holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Finance) from Concordia University. Between 2017 and 2021, he was the recipient of the Brendan Wood International Top Gun award.

Balal joined Van Berkom in August 2021 as a Research Intern on the Canadian team and was promoted to Analyst in January 2023. He is responsible for conducting fundamental research across a broad spectrum of the Canadian small-cap equity market.

Prior to joining Van Berkom, he interned at EdgePoint Wealth Management in Toronto. Balal graduated as a Stephen A. Jarislowsky Fellow at the John Molson School of Business, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. During his studies, he was a member of the Van Berkom Investment Management Program (Class of 2021) as well as the Sustainable Investing Practicum (Class of 2021).

Maxime joined Van Berkom in September 2020. He is responsible for conducting fundamental research on specific sectors of the Canadian equity market. Prior to joining us, Maxime was Senior Equity Analyst at Allard, Allard & Associés (2009-2020). Previously, he was Senior Adviser at KPMG LLP (2007-2009). Maxime holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) (2005) and a MSc (Finance) (2007), both from the University of Sherbrooke. He is a CPA, CGA (2009), CFA Charterholder (2010) and a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) (2011).

Alexander joined Van Berkom in 2022 and is responsible for conducting fundamental research across sectors and geographies with an emphasis on the EAFE region.

Prior to joining Van Berkom, Alexander was an Equity Research Associate at Stifel Financial, where he conducted in-depth fundamental analysis, produced differentiated research, and supported idea generation on the Consumer Sector in Canada. During his time at Stifel, Alexander initiated coverage on 8 companies, where he built detailed financial models, led proprietary research workstreams and co-authored reports.

Prior to Stifel, Alexander completed his graduate studies at Concordia, and participated in the Van Berkom Investment Management program where he helped manage an endowment fund of $2 million in North American Small Cap stocks. During his studies, he also completed various internships in both public and private markets with CDPQ and Crédit Mutuel.

Alexander graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Finance and an MBA from the Goodman Institute of Investment Management at John Molson School of Business. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Marcus has been a Partner and Portfolio Manager since January 2021. He joined Van Berkom Golden Dragon (VBGD) in Hong Kong in January 2015 as Partner and Senior Analyst.  He is responsible for conducting fundamental research on a broad spectrum of the Greater China small-cap equity market.

Prior to joining VBGD, Marcus worked at Sheng Yuan Asset Management (2011-2015) and Enlighten Asset Management (”EAM”) (2010) as an equity analyst and in investment banking. Prior to EAM, he was a tutor of Macroeconomic and International Finance at the University of Adelaide, Australia (2008-2010).

François joined Van Berkom in December 2019. He is responsible for conducting fundamental research on specific sectors of the Canadian equity market. Prior to joining us, François was Senior Analyst at Allard Allard & Associés (2016-2019). Previously, he was Equity Analyst at Duncan Ross Associates (2012-2016). François holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Concordia University – John Molson Business School (2008). He is a CFA Charterholder (2012) and he is a Chartered Business Valuator (CICBV) (2016).

Patrick is Partner and Chief Operating officer. He is responsible for overseeing most operational departments of our firm, making sure that each department is managed according to best practices and is scalable to successfully handle future growth. He also significatively contributes to the elaboration and execution of our growth strategy. He is a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Prior to joining VBA, Patrick was Executive Vice President at Optimum Holdings (2009-2021), a division of the Optimum Group that owns four companies, including Optimum Asset Management. Previously, he was Vice-President, Eastern Canada at Standard Life Investments (2000-2009).

Patrick is a CFA Charterholder (2007) and holds a M.Sc. Economics (Finance) from the University of Montreal (1996).

Andy is Senior Director, Institutional Markets. He is responsible for marketing all our investment strategies and helping us grow our assets across Canada by building strong relationships with institutional investors and consultants. He will also look at opportunities to develop our institutional business in international markets.

Prior to joining Van Berkom in 2022, Andy was Product Leader – Total Benefits Platform at iA Financial Group (2021-2022). He also worked as a Director at Optimum Financial Group (2019-2021). Before that role, he held positions as a Pension Consultant at Optimum Actuarial Consulting (2015-2019), and as an Actuarial Analyst – Pension Consulting at Mercer (2012-2015).

Andy holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC Montreal (2021). He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (F.S.A.) and of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (F.C.I.A.) (2018).