Carmel Wealth has recently hired ex-PortfolioMetrix SA MD, Kathryn van Dongen, a qualified Chartered Accountant and well-known figure in the financial services industry. Kathryn joins Carmel Wealth on 1 May 2024 as COO and will be instrumental in formulating and driving the Group’s expansion strategies and business operations.

“We are exceptionally pleased to have Kathryn on board. Her entrepreneurial mindset aligns perfectly with our value of ownership and her successful track record will be instrumental in supporting the strong growth we have experienced to date,” says CEO Hans De Nysschen.

De Nysschen comments further that they have made significant strides in attracting high-caliber individuals into the leadership structure of Carmel.  Along with Kathryn, recent hires include Carlia van der Merwe as Head of Compliance (previously Discovery Senior Compliance Manager - Product Distribution) and Chief Financial Officer Phillip Swart, who owned an independent advisory and accounting business for the past 13 years, specialising in the wealth management, private equity and property industries.

According to Dr Nico Marais, Chairman of Carmel Wealth, various global trends are shaping the financial planning and wealth management landscape, including the shift in investor behavior towards tailored and managed solutions and the ever-increasing importance of technology and compliance as competitive enablers and risk mitigating tools. He believes that this investment into the leadership team will be instrumental in keeping Carmel Wealth at the forefront of these trends.