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Richard van Dijk CFP® (Johannesburg)

CEO

Contact: +27 83 375 7884

Email: richard@ebbluestar.com

Prior to joining Sanlam, Richard spent 22 successful years with Liberty Life where he became Divisional Director of Sales, Marketing and Promotions, a division he established and led for a number of years, amassing numerous awards including the MD’s Award for Exceptional Contribution. Joining Sanlam in 2008 as General Manager, Richard was responsible for the distribution of SEB products and services. He enjoyed 6 successful years with SEB and was the recipient of the CEO’s Award. In August 2014, he jumped at the opportunity to lead EB BlueStar in a strategic partnership with SFA and SEB. A recognised industry leader, Richard is qualified as a Certified Financial Planner, and is a previous winner of the Top Investment Candidate Award of FPI. He is also passionate about industry education and designed an INSETA accredited Wealth Management qualification for Corporate Specialists.

Alwyn Jackson (Johannesburg)

Contact: +27 83 259 9216

Email: alwyn@ebbluestar.com

Alwyn has been in the retirement fund industry for over 20 years, having worked for some of the top life assurers. Joining Sanlam in 2010 as an Employee Benefits Specialist, he was responsible for new business sales and went on to exceed his sales target every year. Whilst enjoying sales, Alwyn had a strong bond with all the intermediaries that he called upon and his new business results bore testimony to that. Alwyn has completed all required industry examinations and continues his academic growth by currently completing his Retirement Fund Management course.

Carol Ann Sing (Johannesburg)

Contact:+27 73 452 0977

Email: carol@ebbluestar.com

Carol joined Sanlam in 2013 as a Support Specialist and brought with her many years of industry experience. Having previously worked in the Employee and Corporate Benefits divisions of top firms such as Hollard, Investec and Liberty, Carol is a great asset to the business and has been previously nominated for Support Specialist of the Year. Her responsibilities at EB BlueStar include the administration of quotes, servicing and liaising with clients.

Rob Reynolds (Johannesburg)

Contact: +27 84 505 2696

Email: rob@ebbluestar.com

Rob joined EB BlueStar in October 2014 as a Contracted Benefit Consultant, responsible for consulting, servicing of existing client funds, marketing employee benefits amongst Sanlam’s financial advisory services, and the securing of new employee benefits business. With over 40 years’ experience in the employee benefits industry, Rob has worked across the full spectrum in administration, marketing, servicing and new business for both insurers and consulting actuarial brokerages.

Victor Kambule (Johannesburg)

Contact:+27 83 275 7159

Email: victor@ebbluestar.com

Victor joined Sanlam in 2009 as Regional Manager for the Employee Benefits distribution channel in the Johannesburg area, coming from Liberty Life after spending 20 years with the group as a Corporate Specialist and thereafter as Head of the Northern Region of Employee Benefits Distribution. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa where he served from 2013 to 2016, and resigned when he was appointed to grow the IFA market in the Broker Services business of EB Bluestar. He holds a law degree and the required accreditations of the retirement fund industry.

Caroline Dumah (Johannesburg)

Contact: +27 74 271 8210

Email: caroline@ebbluestar.com

Caroline joined EB Bluestar in March 2017 after her Project Management Internship at Nomaku Traders. She is currently responsible for the administration of quotes, and servicing and liaising with clients. She is also responsible for our EB BlueStar Cares initiative, which was introduced in the year 2017 to assist with various social struggles in our communities, supporting various charities and worthy causes. Caroline completed her BA Industrial Psychology Degree and International Relations Degree at the Witwatersrand University in 2014.

Zinhle Qwabe (Johannesburg)

Contact: +27 84 256 9143

Email: zinhle@ebbluestar.com

Zinhle joined EB BlueStar in July 2017 and has a Degree in Business Administration. She has worked as a Call Centre Agent at Jumo, a debt counselling company, was a Data Capturer at Atlas Finance, and worked as an Administrator at T Mabuya & Associates. She currently holds the position of Receptionist and Administration Support.

Deliwe Thibakgoane (Johannesburg)

Contact:+27 73 804 8712

Email: deliwe@ebbluestar.com

Deliwe joined EB BlueStar in July 2017, after working in both the retail and teaching industries for many years. She has a National Diploma in Marketing from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and currently holds the position of Administration Assistant, specialising in compiling Joint Forum packs.

Sandii Bartlett (Cape Town)

Contact: +27 83 375 8149

Email: sandii@ebbluestar.com

Sandii has an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and over 30 years’ experience in the employee benefits industry. She joined Sanlam in November 2011 and was SEB’s Corporate Specialist of the Year in 2013. Sandii is excited about being part of EB BlueStar as she is passionate about working in the tied agency market. She was involved in developing the relationship between employee benefits and the tied agency forces of Southern Life, Momentum Life, Sage Life, Liberty Life and Standard Bank Financial Consultants.

Ladida Jansen (Cape Town)

Contact: +27 83 640 5066

Email: ladida@ebbluestar.com

Ladida joined Sanlam on 1 August 2003 as an Administrator in the freestanding Pension and Provident Funds department. She later became a team leader supervising a team of administrators in the same department, and was then appointed Assistant Manager of the Administration department. During 2010 she decided to make a change in her career and joined the Distribution of SEB as Support Specialist. In August she saw a growth opportunity in EB BlueStar, with the strategic partnership with SFA and SEB. Prior to joining Sanlam, she spent 4 years with Gilt Edged Management Services as a Collections/Credit Controller and obtained a Diploma in Financial Management.

Gary Künnemann (Cape Town)

Contact: +27 83 375 4113

Email: gary@ebbluestar.com

Prior to joining Sanlam, Gary spent 17 successful years with Liberty Life, where he became Head of Coastal Sales – Corporate Benefits. Joining Sanlam in 2008 as Regional Manager (Cape), he was responsible for the distribution of SEB products and services via the intermediated market. He was later appointed as National Sales Manager and enjoyed 8 successful years with SEB. In February 2017, he jumped at the opportunity to join the newly created broker services business of EB BlueStar, where he took responsibility for the Independent Financial Adviser market in the Western Cape. Gary holds the professional designation of Financial Services Adviser (FSA™) with the FPI, and has completed numerous industry-related courses, including attending Manchester Business School.

Shouneez Badat (Cape Town)

Contact:+27 84 244 5331

Email:shouneez@ebbluestar.com

Shouneez has 12 years’ experience in employee benefits, and has been with Sanlam since 2008. Her responsibilities at EB BlueStar include the administration of quotes, as well as servicing and liaising with clients. She is currently in the process of obtaining a National Certificate in Wealth Management, and was nominated for Support Specialist of the Year in 2013.

Diane Smith CFP® (Western Cape)

Contact: +27 83 275 2582

Email: diane@ebbluestar.com

Diane joined EB BlueStar in May 2018, although she has been involved with Employee Benefits since 1992, working for Norwich, Fedsure and Investec. Most recently she worked at Liberty Corporate where she was seconded to Standard Bank Financial Consultancy to manage their Employee Benefits division in the Western Cape. Diane holds a CFP and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Employee Benefits, and she is involved in umbrella fund sales, consulting and business development in the Western Cape division of EB BlueStar.

Renet Laas (Pretoria)

Contact:+27 82 708 7096

Email: renet@ebbluestar.com

Renet is a member of the FPI and is accredited in terms of FAIS legislation to consult with retirement funds on a broad range of retirement fund management issues. After joining SEB in 1986, Renet moved to the Individual Life side as Administration Manager. Her career then shifted to human resources for a few years, before returning to Sanlam Consultants and Actuaries in 2000. Renet joined Simeka Consultants and Actuaries when they formed in 2005, and remained there until 2009 when she moved to Sanlam Distribution to specialise in the umbrella fund and risk market. She then joined EB BlueStar in 2014, where she currently works as Consultant.

Cassandra Nadas (Pretoria)

Contact:+27 83 286 5782

Email: cassandra@ebbluestar.com

Cassandra joined SEB in October 2008 as a Support Specialist providing admin support to the client solution specialists. During her time at SEB, she obtained her National Certificate in Wealth Management and successfully completed the Regulatory Exam (RE5). In 2014, she was the recipient of the Support Specialist of the Year Award, and in February 2017, she saw an opportunity with EB Bluestar for further professional and individual growth.

Albert Blignaut (Constantia Kloof)

Contact: +27 84 254 6196

Email: albert@ebbluestar.com

Albert entered the financial industry in 1990 and, after experiencing successful periods at Old Mutual, Fedsure and Safrican, he joined Sanlam in 2007 as a new business consultant. He was incorporated into the SEB structure as an Employee Benefits Specialist and enjoyed 6 rewarding years in this position before jumping at the opportunity to join EB BlueStar in 2014. Having obtained his Intermediate Certificate in Business Studies through IISA, Albert has a real passion for the retirement fund industry.

Rich Prinsloo (Gauteng)

Contact:+27 82 889 6356

Email: rich@ebbluestar.com

Rich joined EB BlueStar in February 2018. He started his career at Absa Consultants and Actuaries, before moving to Investment Solutions, and more recently worked as a Retirement Fund Specialist in Business Development for Glacier at Sanlam, where he was responsible for developing the use of the Glacier Investment platform on the Sanlam Umbrella Fund. Rich holds an Honours Degree in Investment Management and brings a wealth of experience in investment consulting to intermediaries.

Michael Visser CFP® (Durban)

Contact: +27 82 576 0691

Email: michael@ebbluestar.com

Michael joined Sanlam in 2010 as a Regional Manager for SEB Distribution. Prior to that, he spent the majority of his career with Old Mutual Broker Distribution. Michael holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and CFP status, and has in excess of 20 years’ experience in the investment, employee benefits and wider financial services industries. Michael joined EB BlueStar in 2017 and is responsible for business development and intermediary distribution in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, while also providing support in parts of the Eastern Cape.

Amanda Naidoo (Durban)

Contact:+27 64 650 3159

Email: amanda@ebbluestar.com

Prior to joining SEB, Amanda worked as Client Liaison and Administrator at Sanlam Private Wealth. She joined SEB as a Personal Assistant to the Regional Manager in 2012. During her tenure she was awarded Support Specialist of the Year. In May of 2019, she moved over to EB BlueStar, where she is now responsible for administration, new business quotations, servicing and liaising with financial advisers, brokers and clients.

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