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Richard van Dijk (Johannesburg)

CEO

Contact: 083 375 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 six 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: 083 259 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)

Support Specialist

Contact: 073 452 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)

Executive Client Consultant

Contact: 084 505 2696

Email: rob@ebbluestar.com

Rob joined EB BlueStar in October 2014 as a Contracted Benefit Consultant, responsible for the consulting to and servicing of existing client funds, the marketing of 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.

Albert Blignaut (Constantia Kloof)

Employee Benefits Specialist

Contact: 084 254 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 six 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.

Handri Theart (Cape Town)

Client Consultant

Contact: 082 492 2295

Email: handri.theart@sanlam.co.za

Handri first joined Sanlam in 1973 as a Fund Administrator and progressed to a consultant role in 1989, where he was responsible for servicing a portfolio of retirement fund clients. He enjoyed 15 successful years with SEB and, during this time, also qualified as a Certified Financial Planner. Following a four-year-stint at Simeka Consultants and Actuaries, Handri was transferred to Sanlam Investment Management, where he remained until August 2014. On 1 August 2014, Handri joined EB BlueStar as a Client Consultant, where he continuously delivers excellent and professional client service, building relationships with both internal and external clients.

Erica Kunz (Bloemfontein)

Executive Client Consultant

Contact: 082 336 7412

Email: erica.kunz@sanlam.co.za

Possessing over 30 years’ experience in employee benefits, Erica began her career at Sanlam in 1982 as an Employee Benefits Administrator. Throughout this career, she has received numerous promotions and accolades, including the Sanlam Komkamp award for excellent performance in the service of Sanlam for 1993. Erica acquired the sufficient credits towards a National Certificate in Financial Services and successfully completed her Regulatory Exam (RE 1), qualifying her to become an Executive Client Consultant.

Sandii Bartlett (Cape Town)

Contact: 083 375 8149

Email: sandii@ebbluestar.com

Sandii has an Advanced Post Graduate 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 Pietersen (Cape Town)

Consultant

Contact: 083 640 5066

Email: ladida@ebbluestar.com

Ladida joined Sanlam on 1 August 2003 as an Administrator in the free standing 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 Sanlam Employee Benefits 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.

Hein Kotze (Pretoria)

Contact: 082 903 2017

Email: hein@ebbluestar.com

Hein is responsible for business development in the Northern Provinces (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West) and Pretoria, focusing on partnering mainly with Sanlam Financial Advisers to promote employee benefits business. He has extensive experience in the sales and servicing of retirement funds as well as freestanding risk benefit schemes, which he obtained over a career spanning more than 30 years in the employee benefits industry. Hein holds a Unisa/IISA Higher Certificate in Retirement Fund Management and is licensed to give advice and render intermediary services on retirement fund benefits.

Renet Laas (Pretoria)

Contact:082 708 7096

Email: renet@ebbluestar.com

Renet is a member of the Financial Planning Institute (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 Sanlam Employee Benefits 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.

Victor Kambule (Johannesburg)

Contact:083 275 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: 074 271 8210

Email: caroline@ebbluestar.com

Caroline joined EB Bluestar in March 2017 after her Project Management Internship at Nomaku Traders, and is currently responsible for the administration of quotes, 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 and International Relations Degree at the Witwatersrand University in 2014.

Zinhle Qwabe

Contact: 084 256 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

Contact:073 804 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 Cape Peninsula University of Technology and currently holds the position of Administration Assistant, specialising in compiling Joint Forum packs.

Cassandra Nadas (Pretoria)

Contact:083 286 5782

Email: cassandra@ebbluestar.com

Cassandra joined Sanlam Employee Benefits in October 2008 as a Support Specialist providing admin support to the Client Solution Specialists. During her time at Sanlam Employee Benefits 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.

Gary Künnemann (Cape Town)

Contact: 083 375 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 eight 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: 084 244 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.

Michael Visser (Durban)

Contact: 082 576 0691

Email: michael@ebbluestar.com

Michael joined Sanlam in 2010 as a regional manager for Sanlam Employee Benefits Distribution. Prior to that, he spent the majority of his career with Old Mutual Broker Distribution. Michael holds a Post Graduate 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 KZN, while also providing support in parts of the Eastern Cape and the Free State.

Kevin Morton (Port Elizabeth)

Contact: 082 490 6906

Email: kevin@ebbluestar.com

Kevin joined Sanlam in 2007 and has 21 years’ experience in the employee benefits industry, having worked in the employee benefits divisions of Investec, Alexander Forbes and Momentum. Kevin is based in Port Elizabeth, and he’s responsible for new business acquisition and providing employee benefits consulting services to clients based in the Eastern Cape. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.

Louise Grimbeek (Port Elizabeth)

Contact: 081 025 9272

Email:louise@ebbluestar.com

Prior to joining Sanlam in 2000, Louise worked as a Human Resources Officer responsible for the administration of both the pension and provident funds of a major electrical cable manufacturer in Gauteng. She also served as a member representative Trustee on the board of Trustees of the company’s pension fund. Her responsibilities at EB Bluestar include the administration of quotes, servicing and liaising with financial advisers, brokers and clients.

Mitzi Victor (Bloemfontein)

Contact: 082 468 1111

Email: mitzi.victor@sanlam.co.za

Mitzi first joined Sanlam in December 1980 as a Secretary/Support Specialist and progressed to a Consultant role in 1989. She joined EB BlueStar in February 2017 and is responsible for consulting and servicing brokers, as well as securing new employee benefits business. She received several accolades, including the Sanlam Komkamp award for excellent performance in sales in 1993, 1995 and 2000, and has successfully completed her Regulatory Exam (RE1).

Rich Prinsloo (Gauteng)

Contact:082 889 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 Hons. in Investment Management and brings a wealth of experience in investment consulting to intermediaries.

Diane Smith CFP® (Western Cape)

Contact: 083 275 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 Post Graduate 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.

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