Founder & Managing Director
George Athanassakos
Professor of Finance & Ben Graham Chair in Value Investing
Dr. George Athanassakos is a Professor of Finance and the Ben Graham Chair in Value Investing at the Ivey Business School, which he joined in July 2004. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of The Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing, which he launched in 2006, and the Founder and Managing Director of the Center for the Advancement of Value Investing Education, which he launched in 2008. Prior to joining Ivey, Dr. Athanassakos spent a number of years at various research-related positions with banking and trust companies in Canada and Greece, and taught at York University and Wilfrid Laurier University, where he was professor of Finance and Founder & Director of Laurier’s Financial Planning Program. He has a BA in Economics and Business Administration from The School of Industrial Studies of Thessalonica, Greece, and an MA in Economics, an MBA and a PhD in Finance from York University. The Financial Planning Standards Council has bestowed Dr. Athanassakos with the FP CanadaTM Fellow distinction for his outstanding contribution to furthering FPSC's mission and for advancing the financial planning profession.
Fund Co-Managers
The Fund is co-managed by two recent HBA and/or MBA graduates on a volunteering basis but chosen based on demonstrated excellence in their studies and passion for value investing. One co-manager’s term is for 3 years, while the other co-manager’s term is for 2 years. This will allow for continuity. A new co-manager will be appointed in year two and he will be trained by the continuing co-manager who will be replaced in year three by the new appointee and so on.
Darren Lewis, CPA
LinkedIn Profile | Email
Darren holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School where he graduated on the Dean’s Honor List and as an Ivey Scholar. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting from Rotman Commerce. In 2017, his Value Investing team was awarded the Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. award for the section’s strongest valuation report. During his undergraduate studies, he was the Co-President of the Ivey Accounting Club and an Ivey Teaching Assistant. Currently, Darren is an Associate at Ironbridge Equity Partners, a Toronto-based private equity firm. Prior to this role, Darren spent three years as a Manager in KPMG’s M&A Transaction Services group, which included a secondment to the Private Equity team at IMCO.
Andrew Semple, CFA
LinkedIn Profile | Email
Andrew is a graduate of Ivey’s HBA Class of 2017. He currently works as an Equity Research Analyst at Echelon Wealth Partners, and previously held summer internships with CIBC Equity Derivatives, RBC Pension Investments, and Sprott Asset Management Operations. Through his work and extra-curricular experiences, Andrew has developed his research, financial modelling and valuation skills. Andrew has a long history of engagement with his community. He recently assisted his professor with a value investing seminar, and has previously volunteered with local not-for-profit organizations such as Windrush Stables Therapeutic Riding Centre, Toronto Brigantine, and Oakville Soccer Club.
Ivey Value Fund Fellows
Students whose stocks are selected for inclusion in the Ivey Value Fund, either as immediate buys or as watchlisted stocks, are given the title of Ivey Value Fund Fellows. Inclusion signifies that their work has gone through a rigorous selection process by the Fund's Advisory Board, Managing Director, and Fund Managers, as well as ranking at the top quartile in the Value Investing course. The Ivey Value Fund Fellow designation also signifies that these students have accepted responsibility for tracking and reporting on their stock picks after graduation.
Ivey Fund Fellows, as well as the Research Analysts named in the next section, are the top-performing students associated with the Ivey Value Fund. If you are in the investment management industry and would like to discuss recruitment opportunities, please feel free to contact us at the Ben Graham Centre.
Research Analysts
In 2012, when the Fund was being established, the Research Analysts carried out much of the research work needed to launch a fund that invests in student-recommended stocks. Research Analysts in subsequent years carry out research related to the Value Fund. This includes, but is not limited to, verifying student analysts' valuation methodologies and company financials, as well as confirming intrinsic value and entry prices.
Research Analysts, as well as the Ivey Value Fund Fellows named in the previous section, are the top-performing students associated with the Ivey Value Fund. If you are in the investment management industry and would like to discuss recruitment opportunities, please feel free to contact us at the Ben Graham Centre.
Student Analysts
HBA and MBA Student Analysts have been working with the Centre since the Value Investing course was first taught in 2005. Please note that the Ivey Value Fund began operations in 2013. Therefore, students from previous years were not eligible to be designated as Ivey Value Fund Fellows.
Thanks to Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. for their vision and generous support of the Ivey Value Fund, which benefits students and practitioners worldwide.
Ivey Value Investing and Selected Courses as Related to the Fund's Operations