“What sets us apart from others is we offer clients industry-leading cost efficiency and robust execution capabilities while emphasizing the deep customer service that is PGM’s hallmark.”

Patrick Belland, CFA
President & Chief Executive Officer

Patrick Belland, CFA®

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Belland is a highly respected investment professional with ~30 years experience in executive leadership, sales and business development. He joined the company (f.k.a. Brockhouse Cooper) in 1992 and has helped build, expand and grow the Company across all business segments and operating divisions, participated in and charted corporate strategy and supported an MBO, sale of a major division (to Mercer) and participated in an internal recapitalization. Under Mr. Belland’s leadership, PGM Global has grown into an integrated provider of specialized and award-winning trade order execution, transition management and global macro research services, serving a global clientele of several hundred institutions and executing trading transactions for its clients of up to $100 billion, notionally, per annum. in 1997, Mr. Belland was involved in the establishment of the company’s early efforts to establish a U.S. presence and supported the pension consulting sales effort in the region. He also worked closely with an affiliated company in South Africa, shaping strategy and operations of both securities trading and transition management, as well as training staff. Mr. Belland holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) with Honors degree from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.

Giancarlo Farinacci CPA, CA

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer

Mr. Farinacci is Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer and leads the finance and accounting functions of the company. He joined the Company in 2015. Previously, he was Senior Manager at BDO Canada LLP, where he spent 12 years and specialized in financial services working with broker-dealers, investments advisors, investments funds and investment fund managers. He has extensive experience with the following regulatory bodies: IIROC, FINRA, AMF, OSC, MFDA. Mr. Farinacci holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and post-graduate diploma in public accounting from Concordia University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

Michael Avedesian

Director, Global Markets Sales

Since 1996, Mr. Avedesian has held several positions within the Capital Markets division, working in North American and International Settlements, as a Sales Trader on the North American, Asian and European desks, and Manager of the trading team. In his current role, he leads the global sales effort for the company’s global equity execution services and the Global Macro Research product. He is also responsible for managing the 24-hour global trading team. Prior to joining PGM, Mr. Avedesian worked for Pegasus Marketing in Montreal. He is a graduate of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, with a Bachelor’s degree in economics.  Mr. Avedesian has completed his IIROC licensing examinations as well as the FINRA Series 24, 37 and 63 exams.

Michael Zelman

Director, Global Markets Trading

Since joining the firm in 2006, Mr. Zelman has worked as a senior sales trader on the European team and in addition became Head of Sales Trading, North America in 2015. In 2021, Mr. Zelman was appointed Director of Global Markets Trading where he manages the trading desk and is in charge of the firm’s relationships with brokers and trading platforms. Prior to joining the firm, he worked overseas in the UK, for Tradition securities, Knight Capital and TD Securities. Mr. Zelman has a Bachelor’s degree in History and Archaeology from McGill University. He completed his IIROC licensing examinations as well as the FINRA Series 24, 37 and 63 exams.

Aya Abulkhair

Sales & Trading – Americas

Ms. Abulkhair provides best execution trading services for our clients in her role as an Institutional Sales Trader on the North American trading desk. Prior to joining PGM, she traded futures on qualitative macroeconomic and geopolitical news, and was a macroeconomic data analyst. Ms. Abulkhair holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and has completed her IIROC and FINRA licensing examinations.

Jonathan Brown

Sales & Trading – Europe

As an equity sales trader on the European desk, Mr. Brown provides best execution trading services for clients. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Mr. Brown worked as a Senior Specialist at IGM financial where he advised and executed trades for HNW clients and advisors. Mr. Brown has also worked as an Investment Representative where he traded everything from fixed income to equities and derivatives. He is fully IIROC and FINRA licensed.

Jeffy Chui

Head of Asia Trading

Mr. Chui is on the Asia Pacific sales and trading team and helps cover on the European team. He works with the team and clients to provide best execution on equities trading. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, Mr. Chui was a trader on the high value client and active trader platform team at TD Waterhouse discount brokerage. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from McGill University. Mr. Chui has completed his IIROC and FINRA Series 37 licensing examinations.

Amit Gandhi

Sales & Trading – Americas

Mr. Gandhi joined PGM in 2018 and brings over 12 years of industry experience to his role on the North American trading desk. He started his career as an equities trader before becoming a managing director and partner at Alerion Capital, developing high-frequency and algorithmic event-driven strategies in the equities and derivatives markets. He has since held roles at the largest independent asset manager in Canada, working in a high-performing team in both business development and relationship management roles. Mr. Gandhi brings a wealth of knowledge regarding markets and market infrastructure as well a strong acumen for business development and relationship management to the team at PGM Global. Mr. Gandhi graduated from Concordia University with a major in Finance and is fully IIROC and FINRA licensed.

Claude Lamoureux

Head of European Trading

Mr. Lamoureux has been working with PGM Global since 2006. Currently conducting sales and trading on the euro desk, he has also traded equities and foreign exchange for clients based in North America and Europe. Mr. Lamoureux has completed his IIROC and FINRA Series 38 licensing examinations.

Kyle Pedvis

Head of International Sales

Mr. Pedvis provides best execution trading services for our clients in his role as an Institutional Sales Trader. Previously he worked as a Settlements and Trade Operations Analyst before joining the North American trading desk. Prior to joining PGM, Mr. Pedvis received his B.A. in Industrial Relations from McGill University while also minoring in Business Management. Mr. Pedvis has completed his IIROC and FINRA Series 37 licensing examinations.

Mario Choueiri, CFA®, FRM

Head, Transition Management

As Head, Transition Management, Mr. Choueiri oversees a team of project managers responsible for assisting clients with the liquidation and funding of one or more portfolios as a result of a change in investment manager or a shift in asset allocation. Prior to joining PGM in 2006, Mr. Choueiri worked as a lawyer and portfolio manager for a charitable foundation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from McGill University in 1995 and with a Master of Business Administration from HEC (Hautes Etudes Commerciales) Montréal in 2000. He is a CFA charterholder and was awarded the FRM designation in 2011. Mr. Choueiri has completed his IIROC licensing examinations as well as the FINRA Series 24 and 37 exams.

Matthew Pellegrino, CFA®

Project Manager, Transition Management

Mr. Pellegrino joined the firm in 2018 and is part of the transition management team where he is responsible for assisting clients in the reallocation of their portfolios. He started his career in an operational role at State Street where he serviced Canadian pension fund clients. Mr. Pellegrino graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University and was awarded the CFA designation in 2019.  He completed his IIROC licensing examinations as well as the FINRA Series 37 exam.

Jency Zhen

Project Manager, Transition Management

Ms. Zhen joined PGM Global on the transition management team in 2022, where she manages changes to client portfolios to minimize transaction costs and risks. She has deep experience in financial markets, coming from a background in low-latency trading at DRW, where she headed the European futures desk. Ms. Zhen holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from McGill University and has completed her IIROC and FINRA licensing examinations.

Aidan Garrib

Head, Global Macro Strategy & Research

Mr. Garrib leads the team responsible for producing global macro research, focusing on currencies, interest rates, equity indices and commodities. He works closely with PGM clients, presenting economic analysis and original global macro investment ideas. He has deep experience in financial markets, global macro strategy and credit analysis. He is on the lookout for emerging macro trends and finds actionable investment ideas to exploit them. Prior to PGM, Mr. Garrib directed the country allocation strategy for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). He also worked on CIBC’s trading floor in London, England. Mr. Garrib holds an undergraduate and a Master’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Master’s of Finance degree from Queen’s University.

Stuart Bailey

Global Macro Analyst

With a quantitative background and experience in futures trading, Mr. Bailey contributes to the production of PGM’s flagship Global Strategy Note. In addition, he develops bespoke quantitative investment strategies for clients. Prior to joining PGM, he worked for Natcan Investment Management and National Bank Financial as a Quantitative Analyst, followed by proprietary trading positions at OSTC Ltd. and FCL Trade, specializing in global interest rate futures markets. Mr. Bailey earned a B.Sc. Specialization Mathematical and Computational Finance from Concordia University.

John Tsagaroulis

Head, International Settlements

Mr. Tsagaroulis joined PGM in 1998 and leads the equity settlement department. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Tsagaroulis worked at BMO Nesbitt Burns for 12 years in equity settlements and as a retail sales assistant. Mr. Tsagaroulis has completed his IIROC and FINRA Series 24 and Series 37 licensing examinations.

Peter Tsonis

Settlements & Trade Operations Analyst – Americas

Mr. Tsonis joined PGM Global in 2021 as a Settlement and Trade Operations Analyst. Mr. Tsonis works closely with clients to clear firms and ensure the timely settlement. Mr. Tsonis received a Bachelor’s of Commerce from Concordia University.