Our Team - SEAMARK Asset Management Ltd

Bob McKim, CFA

Chairman, Portfolio Manager

Bob earned his CFA designation in 1981 and joined Elliott and Page Atlantic — later renamed SEAMARK Asset Management — in 1984, when the firm managed $50 million in assets. Over the next two decades, he helped shape a durable investment style that delivered above-median returns in 80% of annual periods.¹ Along the way, he worked across every part of the business — research, trading, portfolio management, client service, and business development — before rising to Chief Investment Officer and then CEO. By the time he left the firm in 2005, assets under management had grown to over $10.5 billion. He returned in 2012 as CIO.

Beste Alpargun, MBA, CFA

President and Chief Compliance Officer, Portfolio Manager

Beste joined SEAMARK in 2009 with 18 years of experience in investment analysis, company research, and valuation, including senior research analyst and head of research roles at some of Turkey's largest investment banks. After relocating to Canada in 2000, she conducted investment research for two local boutique firms, where she also handled administration, compliance, and senior management. She holds a degree from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, an MBA from Dalhousie University in Halifax, and the CFA designation. Beste taught a graduate-level finance course at St. Mary's University for 15 years.

René Fantin, MBA, CFA

Senior Portfolio Manager

René holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Economics and an MBA from York University, and earned his CFA designation in 2014. He was a member of the portfolio management team at Stone Asset Management, where he worked across portfolio construction, risk management, and trading. As lead portfolio manager for the firm's Dividend Growth and Growth funds, he built a long-term track record of outperformance in both mandates, earning multiple Lipper Awards as the top fund in the category.* René's experience adds valuable depth to the SEAMARK investment team.

*Dividend Growth – Lipper 2021 (5yr), 2020 (3yr)
*Growth Fund – Lipper 2022 (10yr), 2021 (3yr)

Don Wishart, FCPA, FCMA, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Don began his career at New Brunswick Telephone Company, working on the investment side of the company's pension plan. He then moved through a series of senior roles spanning mergers and acquisitions, Comptroller and Treasurer of Bruncor (NBTel's parent), and CEO of a leasing company, where his credit adjudication skills proved critical. He earned his CMA in 1983 and his CFA in 1986. Before joining McKim and Loughery at SEAMARK in 2002, he owned and operated companies in the equipment leasing and IT sectors. During his initial tenure at SEAMARK from 2002 to 2009, and since his return in 2012, he has held several Executive positions, including several years as one of three members of the Executive Portfolio Management team and as lead portfolio manager for the firm's Foreign and International pooled funds.

Ann-Marie Slawter

Client Relations Administrator

Since joining SEAMARK in 1993, Ann-Marie has worked in a variety of roles, including office administration, marketing associate, and executive assistant to SEAMARK's founder, G. Peter Marshall. In her current role, she provides organizational and administrative support to SEAMARK's investment team, with a focus on delivering a high standard of client service.

¹ This record which belongs to SEAMARK Balanced Pension Composite, is covering the time period between 1985 and 2004 when Bob McKim was leading the SEAMARK Investment Team. The record is calculated by RBC Global Services. SEAMARK's Balanced Pension Composite includes all pension accounts for which SEAMARK provides discretionary investment management through a balanced portfolio of fixed income securities, Canadian equities, and foreign equities. It has the longest track record of any SEAMARK composite and, as it includes all asset classes managed by SEAMARK, provides and overview of the company's overall investment performance. Based on RBC Global Services sample of pension funds. Performance data is calculated on an annual basis, prior to fees and taxes (except withholding tax, if any, on foreign income).