We build concentrated portfolios of high quality businesses when they offer enough return for the risk we are exposed to.
Learn more about Focused Business Investing and our investment solutions.
Real estate assets can generate tax-advantaged income and capital appreciation over the long term.
Learn more about real estate and our investment solutions.
Infrastructure assets generate dividend growth and capital appreciation over the long-term.
Learn more about infrastructure and our investment solutions.
At Starlight Capital, we are investment-led and client-focused. Our goal is to deliver superior, risk-adjusted returns for investors by using our disciplined approach of Focused Business Investing. We build concentrated portfolios of high quality businesses when they offer us enough return for the risk we are exposed to. Learn more about our story, our people and our Focused Business Investment philosophy.
Dennis Mitchell, CEO and CIO of Starlight Capital joins the CBC News Weekend Business Panel to weigh in on this week’s top stories including ongoing concerns about global banking turmoil, the Fed’s recent rate hike, and Shake Shack’s move into Canada.
Dennis Mitchell joined Starlight Capital in March 2018 as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Dennis has over 20 years of experience in the investment industry and has held executive positions with Sprott Asset Management, serving as Senior Vice-President and Senior Portfolio Manager, and Sentry Investments, serving as Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer.
Dennis received the Brendan Wood International Canadian TopGun Award in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and the Brendan Wood International 2012 Canadian TopGun Team Leader Award. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Business Valuator designations and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2002 and an Honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1998.
Graeme joined Starlight Capital in March 2018 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He has more than 20 years of experience focused on asset management and the creation, operation and financial reporting for mutual funds. Graeme has held executive positions with Sentry Investments, where he served as Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Graeme has a broad range of experience across the business with extensive experience in project management, information technology, and the creation, operation and financial reporting for mutual funds, closed-end funds and hedge funds. He was an integral part in the growth of Sentry Investments and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Rotman Commerce Program at the University of Toronto.
Lou joined the Starlight Capital Executive Team in June 2018 as Senior Vice-President, National Sales and Distribution. He has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry focused on sales, sales management and strategic institutional relationships. Lou most recently held an executive position with Fiera Capital where he served as Senior Vice-President Retail Markets and played an integral role in the growth of Fiera Capital’s retail distribution. Lou has worked in senior roles with industry leaders Dynamic Funds, Fidelity Investments and Franklin Templeton Investments.
Lou holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and completed the CAIA Fundamentals in Alternative Investments Certificate Program. He has completed numerous industry courses including the Portfolio Management Techniques, Professional Financial Planning and the Canadian Investment Management courses. He is a member of CAASA and the CPSA.
Alexander Piorkowski joined Starlight Capital in July 2022 as Vice-President, Sales in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Mr. Piorkowski, with a focus on service, public and private markets, is proud to support his clients through this ever-changing market landscape. He has 10+ years of experience in the financial industry which includes Vice-President of Sales at Stone Investment Group (“SIG”) where he was an integral part in the growth of SIG, and prior to that, held various roles in risk management.
Mr. Piorkowski holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation and has a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Economics degree from the University of Guelph.
David Spevick joined Starlight Capital in September 2018 as Vice President of Sales in Ontario. David comes to Starlight from Manulife Investments where he gained a reputation for building excellent relationships with IIROC & MFDA advisors in Toronto & Ottawa. David has extensive experience working with financial advisors providing solutions to their clients’ needs through mutual funds, ETFs, and structured products.
David holds his Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC) to go along with his Honours History degree from Western University and his MBA from Boston University.
Halcyon joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Director, Finance and Fund Services and is responsible for corporate finance as well as the financial reporting, accounting and taxation functions for the investment funds. Halcyon has more than 20 years experience in fund administration, accounting, investment operations and client service within the asset management industry, both in Canada and the US.
Prior to joining Starlight Capital, Halcyon held a leadership role as Director, Fund Administration and Client Service at Sentry Investments. Halcyon was an integral part in the growth and operational success of Sentry Investments where she was instrumental in building and developing the fund accounting and fund administration teams. Halcyon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the City University of New York-Baruch College.
Harry Tashakori joined Starlight Capital as a Research Analyst at Stone Asset Management (“SAM”) which was acquired by Starlight Capital in 2022.
Mr. Tashakori joined SAM in 2021 and has contributed significantly to both the quantitative and fundamental aspects of SAM’s investment process. Prior to SAM, he held a position at CI Global Asset Management as a senior analyst where he was responsible for portfolio performance measurement and attribution, risk analysis and reporting for institutional businesses. Prior to that, he worked at MAPNA Group, a conglomerate of 42 companies and top player in power, oil & gas, and railway transportation industry in the Middle East as a senior infrastructure investment analyst.
Mr. Tashakori holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has completed the Certificate in Investment Performance and Measurement (CIPM) with the CFA Institute and has a Master of Finance from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.
Hisham Yakub joined Starlight Capital in February 2023.
Mr. Yakub most recently held a position with a boutique Toronto-based investment management firm as an Investment Analyst and Portfolio Manager. He also spent the first six years of his business career focused on developing software tools for portfolio management applications. He progressed through several roles across the industry and finished his pre-MBA career at CPP Investment Board.
Mr. Yakub holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager designations and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in 2013 and an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Information Systems from York University.
Kristen Wallace joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Executive Assistant and is responsible for office services and supporting the Executive Team. Kristen has more than 10 years of experience supporting C-Suite Executives with over 8 years of experience in the financial industry.
Kristen has held key support roles with Sprott Asset Management and Altacorp Capital where she most recently served as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO. Kristen was instrumental in implementing organizational processes for Executives, executive reporting and planning and managing marketing campaigns and client events. Kristen is a licenced Paralegal and a member of the Law Society of Ontario. She obtained a diploma in Paralegal Education as well as a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Seneca College.
Mali Karami joined Starlight Capital in February 2019 as Senior Financial Operations Analyst. Mali has more than 15 years’ experience in fund accounting, financial reporting and investment operations within the asset management industry in Canada.
Prior to joining Starlight Capital, Mali worked at Aston Hill Financial and RBC I&TS as a Financial Reporting Analyst where she was responsible for accurate and timely preparation of Financial Statements and MRFPs for various investment funds. Mali holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Ferdowsi University of Iran and has completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC).
Marco joined Starlight Capital in April 2018 as Director, Advisor & Investor Experience. Marco has more than 15 years of experience focused on operations and client service within both the investment manager and various distribution channels. He has held senior level positions with CI Investments and Sentry Investments, where he most recently served as Associate Vice-President, Advisor & Investor Services.
Marco has a comprehensive range of experience across the financial industry with extensive knowledge in mutual funds, dealer operations and high net worth investment products. He was an important part of the revitalization of the service and operational success of Sentry Investments and has a Financial Planning Management Diploma from George Brown College.
Michael Giordano is Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager of Stone Asset Management (“SAM”) which was acquired by Starlight Capital in 2022. He joined SAM in 2005. Prior to joining SAM, he spent 10 years in portfolio management with Pinetree Capital Corp. and Lawrence and Company Inc. Prior to that, he managed internal audit at Gordon Capital Corp. from 1992 to 1996.
Mr. Giordano received his Masters of Business Administration from York University in 1995 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1992. In 2010, Michael obtained his Canadian Investment Management designation.
Roland Wood joined Starlight Capital in September 2018 as Vice President of Sales in British Columbia and Alberta. Roland has a solid track record of building successful relationships at asset management companies including Fiera Capital, Hartford Investments, and Franklin Templeton, as well as experience working as an advisor for CIBC Imperial Services. Roland has expertise in an array of financial products and a great understanding of the needs of advisors and their investors. Roland holds a Bachelor of Commerce, and Economics degree from the University of WIndsor, and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designations.
Sean Tascatan joined Starlight Capital in January 2023 as Senior Portfolio Manager of Stone Asset Management (“SAM”) which was acquired by Starlight Capital in 2022.
Mr. Tascatan most recently held a position at Caldwell Investment Management as the lead portfolio manager of numerous dividend funds, including a U.S. Dividend Growth Fund where he specialized in high-quality, dividend paying U.S. equities. Prior to that, he worked at Sentry Investments where he was a key member of an award-winning Equity Income team that garnered multiple Lipper Fund and Morningstar Investment Awards. There, he was the co-manager of a $3B U.S. Growth and Income Fund and a $500mm Diversified Equity Fund.
Mr. Tascatan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has completed the Options Licensing Course and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Financial Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.
William Seto joined Starlight Capital in August 2018 as Senior Investment Administrator and Trader. William has over 15 years successful investment operations experience at asset management companies, including Excel Funds, Hansberger Growth Investments, Sentry Select Capital, and Laketon Investment Management.
Building on his progressive career, from Trader to Portfolio Administrator to Operations Analyst, William believes in creating exceptional operations and client experience from the ground up. William holds an Honors, Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.