Board of Directors

Arielle de Rothschild is a Global Advisory Partner at Rothschild & Co and a member of the Supervisory Board. Arielle founded the Emerging Markets Department in 1998 when she joined after ten years at Lazard Frères & Cie. She is specialized in government and corporate financial advice in emerging countries. Arielle holds a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from the Institute for Political Studies in Paris, where she wrote her thesis under the direction of former French Prime Minister Raymond Barre. She also holds a DEA in Monnaie, Banque et Finances from Paris 2.

Following a 10-year mandate as President of CARE France, Arielle was elected President of CARE International in 2019, an NGO working in 104 countries. CARE International tackles underlying cases of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient, supporting over 1000 poverty-fighting projects per year to reach more than 122 million people. CARE is also one of the first emergency NGOs to respond to natural disasters and civil conflict.

Arielle is a board member of SFL (Société Foncière Lyonnaise) and a board member of the Fondation de Rothschild. She is the author of a book entitled “Cofinancements Banque Mondiale – Banques commerciales”, published in 1986 by the Presses Universitaires de France, and co-author of “Et la confiance, bordel?” published in 2014 by Eyrolles. Arielle is “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”.

Brian Walsh joined Titan Advisors as a Principal and Chief Strategist following Titan’s acquisition of Saguenay Strathmore Capital, Ltd. He is active in the portfolio management process as a member of the Investment Committee. He co-founded Saguenay Capital in 2002, an alternatives-focused investment management firm with an investor base of international institutions and family offices.

Brian has over 30 years of investment banking, international capital markets and investment management experience. He had a long career at Bankers Trust, culminating in his appointment as co-head of the Global Investment Bank. Prior to that, he served as chairman of Bankers Trust International where he ran the global derivatives business.

Brian received his B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada.

Mr. Le Vasseur joined the Power group of companies in 1992 and currently serves as Vice-President and Controller of Power Corporation and of Power Financial. His responsibilities include financial reporting, budgeting, taxation and information technology.

Mr. Le Vasseur began his career in 1982 with Touche Ross, a predecessor firm of Deloitte & Touche, specializing in the audit of large holding companies. He also worked on various consulting assignments in the field of mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Le Vasseur earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and an MBA from McGill University, and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1985. In 2020, Mr. Le Vasseur received the prestigious title of Fellow from the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants of Quebec (FCPA). This title formally recognizes those members whose achievements in their careers or in the community have earned them distinction and brought honor to the profession. He serves on the board of directors of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, an organization that helps teenagers living with cancer regain their self-esteem and sense of pride through wilderness adventure therapy.

Elizabeth Lowery is a nationally recognized Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Consultant, Attorney, and Expert on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues known for prudent decision making, strong diplomacy skills, and her ability to deal cross-functionally while forging multi-stakeholder consensus around complex, challenging issues.

Beth began her career as an attorney in the private sector after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit. Beth leveraged her experience as a private attorney during a successful 20-year career at General Motors Company (GM). Beth led the development and implementation of GM’s global environment, energy and safety policy strategies and initiatives and co-chaired the U.S. Climate Action Partnership Transportation Subcommittee, where she directed efforts to position GM as a solution provider to address climate change. In addition to her corporate responsibilities, she served on several non-profit boards, including Chair of the World Environment Center, Chair of the InForum Center for Leadership, Keystone Center and the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers. Beth also received numerous recognitions, including the award for “100 Leading Women in North American Auto Industry” in 2005 by Automotive News.

In 2012, Beth joined TPG. She initiated the ESG strategy development and deployment across the Firm through cross-functional engagement with portfolio companies on ESG issues to build sustainable businesses and advise deal teams in identifying risks and opportunities during due diligence. Under Beth’s leadership, she created and issued the first public ESG report for TPG, designed and implemented the first Annual ESG Assessment of the portfolio companies, and was instrumental in TPG becoming a signatory to the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Beth worked with Firm Leadership on Diversity, Inclusion and Governance initiatives at TPG and across the portfolio companies, including actively improving gender diversity on the portfolio company boards.

Heather Davis is a subject matter expert in the Alternative Investments field, with a 30-year track record investing across a wide range of alternative asset classes, including commercial real estate, agriculture, timber, energy and infrastructure, and the private debt asset classes. Currently, Heather Davis serves as Owner of Whynot Farm, a farming venture that raises grass-fed beef and hydroponic vegetables.

Prior to this, Heather served as President and Chief Investment Officer for Nuveen Private Markets, where she held P&L and investment responsibilities for the private markets and alternatives investment subsidiary of Nuveen (the asset management subsidiary of TIAA) with the inclusion of sectors such as Private Equity (funds and direct), Private Debt, Energy, Infrastructure and Impact Investing/ESG. Additionally, she managed a $50B portfolio in these sectors for Nuveen, TIAA and third-party institutional investors. 

Previously, Heather was Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer for TIAA Global Real Assets, where she was responsible for TIAA’s Real Assets investment portfolios and origination programs. In this role, she managed $140B in AUM across sectors such as Commercial Real Estate debt and equity, Agriculture, Timber, Energy, Infrastructure, Private Equity Fund investments, Distressed Investments and Credit, including mezzanine finance, private placements and senior leveraged loans.

Heather’s prior investment experience includes investment roles at PGIM, the investment arm of Prudential. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1982 and Master of Business Administration degree from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University in 1987. She and her family reside in Asheville, NC, and they farm in Eastern Tennessee.

Jake Lawrence was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Power Corporation and Power Financial in March of 2024. He has an extensive background in financial services, including 22 years at Scotiabank in progressively senior roles in finance, group treasury, and global banking and markets in Canada and the United States. At Scotiabank, he was appointed as CEO and Group Head, Global Banking and Markets, a role in which he was responsible for the company’s global banking and markets business and strategy across its global footprint. 

Jake is Chair of the Canadian Advisory Board for Right To Play. He was previously a member of the Advisory Council for Women in Capital Markets and has served as the Chair of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force, a team of industry leaders and experts selected by the Premier of Ontario to explore housing affordability issues in the province and to provide recommendations that address them. 

Jake holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from Lakehead University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wilfrid Laurier School of Business and Economics. 

Murtaza Hussain is Managing Partner of Lunate, a global alternative investment manager with US$105 billion in assets. Mr. Hussain leads the firm’s Direct and Co-Investments strategy and is a member of its Investment Committee, Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors.

Prior to co-founding Lunate, Mr. Hussain served as Chief Investment Officer – Alternative Investments and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) for ADQ, a strategic sovereign wealth fund.

In this role, he led the M&A function to achieve the divestment and monetization objectives of ADQ and its portfolio companies, in addition to establishing ADQ’s Alternative Investments platform with the objective of investing across sectors, funds and asset classes to optimize returns.

During his five-year tenure with ADQ, Mr. Hussain led several of the firm’s landmark transactions, and oversaw investments of over USD 25 billion across the M&A and Alternatives platform.

Mr. Hussain brings close to two decades of investment experience encompassing private equity, corporate finance, restructuring and special situations, across developed and growth markets.

In addition to his executive role, Mr. Hussain is a Board and Investment Committee member of Aramex PJSC and E& Capital. Mr. Hussain previously served as Board Member and Chair of the Investment Committee of ADC, UAE’s first SPAC that successfully merged and is presently traded as E7.

Mr. Hussain earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a Major in Finance and a Concentration in Accounting from McGill University.

Paul Desmarais III is the Chairman and CEO of Sagard, an alternative asset management firm active in venture capital, private equity, credit, and real estate. 

Paul has led Sagard since 2016, along with a handful of close partners bound by a common vision: partnering with entrepreneurs to catalyze transformation in our investments and communities. Sagard has experienced outstanding growth, with assets under management increasing to over $25B. 

Under Paul, Sagard has built a global network of expertise that helps companies lead, embrace, and stay ahead of disruptive trends, expanding activity in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.  The team is behind some of the largest technology success stories in Canada such as Wealthsimple, Koho, nesto, and Dialogue.  Sagard is also behind incredible international entrepreneurial journeys such as the growth of Ceva Sante Animale, the creation of Kiloutou as a French equipment rental champion, and the creation of Alan in the insurance space in France.

Paul engages actively in growing Sagard companies. Within the Sagard ecosystem, Paul is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Portage (fintech & financial services investing) and the Chairman and Co-Founder of Diagram (venture builder). Within the investment portfolios, he is the Chairman of Wealthsimple, Novisto, and Grayhawk, and a director of Nesto and Midas.  Paul also sits on the board of Empower, the number two 401(k) business in the U.S.

Paul is dedicated to helping build a better business world. He is Co-Founder of the Black Wealth Club and the Indigenous Leadership Circle, where emerging Black and Indigenous leaders learn about creating wealth and networks giving them tools and resources that can be reinvested in their communities. Under Paul’s leadership, Sagard has committed to a more sustainable financial system by becoming a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, enlisting as a CREO participant, and embarking on its journey to carbon neutrality. 

Paul was also co-chair of the Centraide (United Way) campaign in 2022 and now serves as Chair of the Major Donors campaign, playing a crucial role in mobilizing significant support for social equity and poverty reduction initiatives in the Greater Montreal area. He is also Honourary Co-President of the Sainte-Justine Hospital’s Foundation 2023-2028 campaign, where he actively contributes to advancing children’s health. Furthermore, he is a member of the 2023-2028 campaign of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 

Paul is also a CMi mentor and founded Young Canadians in Finance. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with accolades such as the prestigious “MBA of the Year” award, solidifying his reputation as both a business leader and a compassionate advocate for positive change.

Finally, Paul received the Arnold Edinborough Award for his work chairing the fundraising campaign for the Kenojuak Culture Center. He was formerly a board member of the Rideau Hall Foundation, Alpine Canada, and the Glenbow Museum, and co-chaired the True Patriot Love Expedition to the magnetic North Pole.

Prior to his current role, Paul worked at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division, Investment Strategy Group and Special Situations Group, Imerys S.A. in supply chain management and strategy, and Great-West Lifeco Inc. in risk management.  He has earned a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College and holds an MBA from INSEAD. Paul resides in Montreal with his wife and four children.

Samuel Robinson is Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Sagard and is based in the United States. He also serves as a Managing Partner and as a member of the Sagard Board of Directors. Samuel is responsible for many of the firm’s operations and strategic initiatives.

From 2016 to 2024, Samuel was President of Sagard and focused on building and scaling the firm’s operations as assets under management grew from $400 million in a single asset class to $25 billion across multiple platforms. Today, Sagard invests in equity, credit, and real estate, primarily in North America and Europe, on behalf of a wide range of global institutional and family clients. Samuel also serves on the Board of Sagard’s wealth management affiliate, Grayhawk. 

Prior to Sagard, Samuel spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, serving as CAO and Head of Strategy for Investment Banking, as COO of Growth Markets, and as Chief of Staff to the President, among other roles in Europe, the US and Asia. 

Away from Sagard, Samuel is chair of the Cambodian Children’s Fund Endowment, supporting education and healthcare in one of Asia’s poorest countries, and is a member of the National Leadership Council of the Navy SEAL Foundation, supporting the nation’s tip of the spear warriors and veterans. He holds a MA and MPhil from Christ Church, Oxford.

Timothy Dattels served as a Partner for TPG, and Chairman of TPG Asia, and served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.  In this role, he has been based in San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore.  Prior to joining TPG in 2004, Tim served as a Partner and Managing Director of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

He received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Western Ontario. He serves or has served on the Boards of Directors of Cushman & Wakefield, BlackBerry, Invest in Canada, Parkway Holdings, Primedia Inc., Shangri-La Asia Ltd., Sing Tao News Corporation Ltd., and SFJazz. Tim is also Vice Chairman of The Jackson Laboratory, and the Founding Trustee of the Kingfisher Foundation. In addition, he serves as Chairman of Alpine Canada Alpin, the national governing body for para-alpine, ski cross and alpine high-performance racing in Canada.  He has also been appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau to represent Canada on the APEC business council.