Meet our private capital &
M&A advisory team.

Kenan Dizdarevic leads the execution of FirePower's M&A and corporate finance advisory transactions. Kenan brings more than 11 years of experience in M&A advisory with fast growing international banking platforms both in the United States and in challenging emerging markets. Embarking on his career in Central Europe, he worked with Deloitte Corporate Finance and KBC Securities with a primary focus on cross-border M&A. Kenan subsequently moved to the US, joining Macquarie Capital in New York, where he advised financial sponsors and M&A clients in the industrials space. After Macquarie, Kenan joined Mizuho Bank, focusing on strategic corporate finance advisory and capital raising, primarily for large US corporates and financial sponsors. Kenan holds an MBA from Duke University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Somant Maraj supports FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates, with a specific focus on M&A. Before joining FirePower, Somant worked in wealth management in the Private Client Group at BMO Nesbitt Burns. Somant holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Ryerson University. He is a sports enthusiast and has represented Trinidad & Tobago in cricket at a regional and international youth level.

Philippe Theroux Ha executes on FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates and leads the firm’s business development activities in Quebec. Philippe started his career at FirePower as an Origination Analyst and returned after a 2-year stint in the Corporate Finance division of Enerkem Inc., a VC-backed renewable fuels company based in Montreal. While at Enerkem, Philippe helped conclude approx. $200m in private equity and debt financings, as well as analyze over $1b in infrastructure projects. Philippe holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from HEC Montreal.

Jonathan Lehun supports FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates. Prior to joining FirePower, Jonathan facilitated the transition of IA portfolios in the range of $50 to $150 million at RBC Dominion Securities. Before embarking on his career in corporate finance, Jonathan was a professional hockey player from 2004 to 2008, having been selected in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the St. Louis Blues. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

Amir Larjani works in FirePower Capital's M&A Advisory group. Before joining FirePower, Amir was an intern in First Capital REIT's investments team, where through supporting the team in various responsibilities, including conducting research and asset valuation, he gained relevant exposure to the transaction process. Amir recently graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

David Koleski works with FirePower Capital's M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining Fire Power Capital, David was a Capital Market's Analyst in Nasdaq's corporate advisory practice, where he advised clients on a variety of corporate actions. David graduate from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor in Business Management.

Alex works with FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Alex was an Analyst at Fiera Capital, where he supported the Private Investments platform in conducting research, asset valuation and due diligence with general partners. Alex holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and a Master of Financial Economics from Western University.

Justin works with FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Justin was a Private Equity Summer Analyst at PARC Partners, where he directly supported the partners in conducting research, asset valuation and due diligence. Next summer, Justin will be joining Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Restructuring Group in Los Angeles. Justin is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a specialization in economics from Western University.

Roshan works with FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Roshan was an Analyst at Good News Ventures, where he directly supported the firm’s partners and developed software investment theses. Next summer, Roshan will be joining Moelis & Company’s technology M&A team in San Francisco. Roshan is pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science from Western University.

Harpreet Singh works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory Group. Prior to joining FirePower, Harpreet worked for a boutique investment advisory and facilitation firm, where he was responsible for building relationships and identifying investment opportunities in North America, the Middle East and Asia. Harpreet began his career as an entrepreneur, cofounding LAB B, a coworking space and hub for early-stage startups. Harpreet earned his undergraduate degree at Western University, where he studied sociology and economics.

Greg works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory Group. Prior to joining FirePower, Greg worked as an Analyst for a boutique Private Equity firm in Perth, Australia, where he was focused on high growth assets across the sectors of ecotourism, holistic health, organic agriculture, sustainable infrastructure and community development. Before embarking on his professional career, Greg played NCAA lacrosse at Lynn University, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Investment Management.

Gerasimos works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory Group. Prior to joining FirePower, Gerasimos worked as a Customer Experience Manager for TD Canada Trust, where he was responsible for building relationships and identifying investment opportunities. Gerasimos holds a Financial Modeling and Valuation certification and has completed his CFA Level I. Gerasimos recently graduated from the Ted Rogers School of Management, where he studied Global Management & Finance.

Logan Coughlin-O’Brien works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory Group. Prior to joining FirePower Capital, Logan worked as a Business Development Assistant at Dalhousie University, where he focused on developing relationships & creating lasting partnerships with Canadian businesses. Logan Holds an MBA from the Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University and a Bachelors Degree in Linguistics from Concordia University.

Trevor Simpson leads FirePower Capital’s Private Capital division in client engagement and credit underwriting. Trevor brings extensive experience in structuring cash flow transactions and providing patient capital to clients utilizing senior term, subordinated debt and mezzanine financing. Previously, Trevor worked at Roynat Capital where he managed and grew a portfolio of clients, tailoring long-term capital solutions for mid-sized companies. Trevor received a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from McMaster University, an MBA from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Stella Millis was most recently a Vice-President and Licensed Insolvency Trustee in BDO’s Financial Recovery Services practice, specializing in insolvency and restructuring of distressed companies.
Stella thinks outside the box to achieve positive results for companies and its key stakeholders. Engagements include viability assessments, liquidations and turnaround plans on behalf of lenders and debtors. These engagements cover various industries, most notably in manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, hospitality, real estate and health care.
Stella is currently serving on the Board of the Ontario Association of Restructuring Professionals. Stella holds a BEng from Ryerson University and is a Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Practitioner.

Ryan Plener works with FirePower Capital’s Private Capital team, responsible for evaluating and supporting private debt and equity opportunities. Prior to joining FirePower, Ryan spent six years at PwC working in both their Assurance and Deals practices. During his time in Deals and Transaction Advisory, he focused on providing support for sell- and buy-side mandates for a wide array of industries across North America. Ryan holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys playing and watching all sports, with a keen interest in hockey and golf. Some of his other hobbies include photography, hiking and travelling.

Tunde Agboola works with FirePower Capital’s Private Capital team, supporting the evaluation and underwriting of lending and private equity opportunities. Prior to joining Firepower, Tunde worked for Aon Canada’s Global Risk Consulting practice, providing risk and capital management advisory services to Canadian companies. Tunde holds a B.Math from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Business, where he specialized in investment banking and corporate finance.

Uday Sandhu works with FirePower Capital’s Private Capital team, responsible for evaluating and supporting private debt and equity opportunities. Prior to joining FirePower, Uday worked for IJW & Co.’s merger and acquisition practice, providing support for sell- and buy-side mandates in the Canadian mid-market. Uday holds a Bachelors of Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Waterloo.

Charles Levy works with FirePower’s Private Capital Team, supporting and evaluating private debt and equity opportunities. Prior to joining Firepower, Charles worked for Archer Growth Partners, evaluating and executing private equity opportunities in the North American mid-market. Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McGill University.

Matthew joined the Private Capital team at FirePower Capital in March 2021. He has previous experience at a single-family office in Toronto, where he focused on the firm's direct and fund investment opportunities across various asset classes. Matthew is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce, with a specialist in Finance and Economics. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing with friends and skiing,

Alex joined the Private Capital team at FirePower Capital in March 2021. Prior to FirePower, Alex was a Private Equity Summer Analyst at Explora Partners, where he worked closely with portfolio company, Clariti Software on strategic initiatives. Alex is pursuing a dual degree with global economics and business administration from Western University and Ivey Business School.

Matthew Borg works with FirePower's Private Capital team supporting in the analysis of private equity and direct lending business opportunities. He is a third-year student at The University of Western Ontario pursuing a dual degree in Business Administration and Economics at the Ivey Business School. He has previous experience as a consultant for BlueRock in Melbourne Australia. In his spare time, he acts as the Vice President to the Western University Triathlon Club.

Cameron Vernest leads FirePower Capital’s Origination and Partnerships team. Cameron is passionate about building businesses and helping business owners achieve their goals. Most recently he was VP of Global Sales and Partnerships at TradeGecko, a Singapore based inventory and order management platform, growing ARR from $2m to over $10m in 3 years. Previously, he was Head of Strategic Partnerships at Shopify and Managing Director of South East Asia at BlackBerry. He holds an MBA in finance and accounting from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Bhavin Parmar drives FirePower’s Origination team’s efforts in developing new relationships and sourcing new deals for our firm. Bhavin brings to FirePower Capital his experience as an Investment Analyst at a Toronto-based private equity fund, as well as a key account manager at a digital marketing strategy firm. Bhavin graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a specialization in Finance.

As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Matt identifies and cultivates relationships and opportunities for the firm’s M&A Advisory and Private Capital groups. Before joining FirePower, Matt was a Sales Associate at NEI Investments, where he was responsible for developing relationships with a network of Investment Advisors. Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Michael D’Ercole originates advisory, direct lending, and private equity opportunities for FirePower Capital. Michael focuses on entrepreneurs looking to exit or grow their businesses and brings relatable, practical experience to the business owners he works with. Before joining FirePower Capital, Michael founded, built and successfully exited two Toronto-based companies. Michael holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and an Honours Degree in Psychology from Queen’s University.

Moritz Christ originates M&A Advisory, Private Capital and Private Equity opportunities for FirePower Capital. He brings international experience to FirePower, having previously worked as an Analyst at Citigroup in Ireland. With a passion for football, Moritz played at a Division I level for Washington State University, and subsequently worked as a business development intern for the Washington Redskins. Moritz holds a Master of Science in International Management with a specialization in Finance from Trinity College at the University of Dublin, and an undergraduate degree in Sports Management, Business Administration from Washington State University.

As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Justin identifies opportunities and cultivates relationships for the firm’s M&A Advisory, Private Capital and Private Equity businesses. Previously, Justin lead the US Corporate Fixed Income back office trade support team within RBC Capital Markets. He holds a Bachelor of Political Science with a concentration on Economics from the University of Waterloo.

As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Julio identifies and cultivates relationships and opportunities for the firm’s M&A Advisory and Private Capital groups. Prior to joining FirePower Capital, Julio worked as a Personal Banking Associate for TD Canada Trust, where he was responsible for identifying investment opportunities, and building relationships. Julio holds a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Economics from Brock University.

As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Tamas identifies opportunities and cultivates relationships for the firm’s M&A Advisory, Private Capital and Private Equity businesses. Prior to joining the Firepower team, he was a part of BMO’s Corporate and International Technology’s Finance team. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto with a specialist in Finance and Economics. Outside of work, Tamas enjoys playing basketball, baseball, and learning about astronomy.

Severina Lutaj works closely with Ilan Jacobson on all strategic, business development and leadership initiatives he undertakes. She is a recent iBBA graduate of the Schulich School of Business with a specialization in Finance, and also studied at HEC Paris in France. Before joining FirePower Capital, Severina accrued significant commercial real estate experience at MPI Group, assisting management in new and existing projects. She previously interned at Cushman and Wakefield, where she worked with clients like Burger King and Tim Hortons.

Severina is also a registered Dealing Representative of Belco Private Capital Inc.

Kimberly Dy manages and supports the daily operations and onboarding process at FirePower. Prior to joining FirePower, Kimberly was an associate consultant specializing in Crown Royalties for a tax advisory firm, where she reviewed client ledgers, provided in-depth analysis reports, and provided general administrative and IT support. Kimberly graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Art in East Asian Language Studies.

Oren heads the firm's Value Maximization division, focused on leveraging big data analytics to aggressively drive shareholder value ahead of M&A activity. Most recently, Oren was a senior leader in PwC’s Value Creation group, where he helped investment firms and their portfolio companies realize deal value using advanced analytical techniques. Prior to that, he headed the Investment Analytics group at MRI Software, focusing on long-term forecasting and benchmarking for large real estate portfolios.

Jake works within FirePower Capital’s Value Maximization team, helping organizations use their data to optimize operations and generate value. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Business Analytics at Ivey Business School and has previously completed an undergraduate degree in Economics at Western University. Prior to joining FirePower, Jake performed industry research at a manufacturing non-profit and worked in data analytics at a technology start-up.

Derek works as a Data Science Intern with FirePower Capital’s Value Maximization team, collaborating with organizations to help make sense of data and find value through analytics. Prior to joining FirePower Capital, Derek worked as a Junior Engineer in the Water Treatment Industry. He is currently completing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at Ivey Business School and holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University.

Mannal Ahmed works with FirePower Capital’s Value Maximization Team to help companies derive value from data. She is currently entering her second year at the Schulich School of Business, looking to major in Operations Management & Information Systems and Finance. Outside of school, she works as a Director of Corporate Relations for the APEX Conference.

Evgeny Soloho leads all our Salesforce development efforts. He is a highly accomplished Salesforce Certified Developer (DEV 401), with a 12+ years track record of advanced full-lifecycle Salesforce implementations for financial, communications and manufacturing companies such as McCarthy Tétrault, Manulife, Mackenzie Investments and BMO. He is a graduate of Vitebsk State Technological University (VSTU) in Belarus. Evgeny heads his growing Salesforce consultancy, WebSolo.ca

Jordan is a manager at Future Balance CPAs and provides accounting services to Firepower Capital. Jordan and the team at Future Balance specialize in providing cloud accounting solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. Before joining Future Balance CPAs Jordan was a senior staff accountant at a premier mid-sized CPA firm, where he obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Jordan also enjoys teaching accounting courses at various small business centers and accelerator programs across the GTA.

Mandy is a bookkeeper at Future Balance CPAs and provides accounting services to FirePower Capital. Prior to joining Future Balance CPAs, Mandy helped clients in the hospitality industry, including top Toronto restaurants, to improve their financial performance and thrive in the rapidly evolving industry. Mandy holds a BComm (Accounting) from the University of Guelph.