The Finance Podcast

Episode 26. Prerna Mathews - VP ETF Product Strategy at Mackenzie Investments

My guest this week is Prerna Mathews. Prerna is a subject matter expert on ETFs and is responsible for the development and execution of Mackenzie’s ETF business strategy. Her team is responsible for initiating product development and shelf management activities and managing ETF capital markets and exchange relationships. Throughout her career, Prerna has gained extensive experience in the development and management of active, strategic beta, and index ETFs. Prerna holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Windsor and an MBA from IE Business School in Spain. This episode was recorded on January 12, 2024.

Episode 25. Matthew Leblanc - Regional Vice President at IG Wealth Management

My guest is Matthew Leblanc, regional vice president at IG Wealth Management. Matt started his career as a consultant in 2011 before becoming a division director. He’s also led the creation of a new regional office in Dorval and now holds the title of Regional Vice President. Over the years at IG, Matt has supported a diverse clientele of professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs aiming to provide financial planning expertise and proven tax-optimization strategies to clients for short and long-term financial goals. Matthew is a Laval University graduate in Sciences and is certified as a Financial Planner. As usual, the content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not serve as financial advice.

Episode 24. Eliot Freeston - Investment Banking Managing Director at Moelis & Company

My guest this week is Eliot Freeston. Eliot Freeston is a Managing Director at Moelis & Company where he specializes in M&A advisory. Mr. Freeston has over 15 years of investment banking experience, executing public and private buy-side, sell-side and special committee assignments across a broad range of industries. His expertise has led him to advise on numerous high-profile, strategic M&A transactions with an emphasis on the hospitality and leisure sectors. Prior to joining Moelis & Company, Mr. Freeston worked in the M&A group at Centerview Partners, and he began his career in investment banking with Scotia Capital in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Freeston holds an H.B.A. from The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. This episode was recorded on February 2, 2022.

Episode 23. Lesley Marks - Chief Investment Officer (Equities) at Mackenzie Investments

My guest on this episode is Lesley Marks, Chief Investment Officer (Equities) of Mackenzie Investments. Ms. Marks joined Mackenzie earlier this year but is a seasoned investment leader with more than 25 years of experience across asset and wealth management, including 22 years at the Bank of Montreal. She was a CIO in both Wealth Management and Asset Management at BMO and, prior to that, had an extensive successful track record as a portfolio manager of Canadian equity portfolios. Ms. Marks is also an active volunteer in her community, channelling her efforts towards causes she is passionate about. She is an Audit and Risk Committee Member for Kids Help Phone, an Advisory Board member for the Institute for Sustainable Finance and the Chair of a Foundation board. Ms. Marks is a CFA charter holder, holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a BCom from Queen’s University.

Episode 22. Rick McCreary - Deputy Chair Investment Banking for TD Securities

My guest this week is Rick McCreary. Rick has over 35 years of experience in the resource sector both as a principal in executive and board roles with various corporates and a financial advisor in investment banking. On the corporate side, Rick started his career with Gulf Canada as an exploration geophysicist later working with the Noranda-Falconbridge Group in engineering, technology development, and metals marketing; and most recently as Senior Vice President Corporate Development with Barrick Gold where he led over US$1.5B in non-core asset divestitures. Prior to TD, Rick's most recent investment banking role was Head of CIBC’s Global Mining Investment Banking Group. During his career, Rick has acted as principal or lead financial advisor in marquee transactions for Placer Dome, Barrick, African Barrick Gold (Acacia), Goldcorp, Kinross, Franco-Nevada, IAMGold, Evolution, Northern Star, Orezone, Noranda, Falconbridge, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Teck, Lundin, Aur, Inmet, Ivanhoe, HudBay, Equinox, Quadra, Baffinland, and Dominion Diamond. Rick holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from McGill University, and an M.Sc. and B.Sc.Hons in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University. Recorded June 17, 2021