Mark Satov
Managing Partner
Mark is a business advisor who pushes his clients to do better. His early entrepreneurial background and consulting stint at Bain & Company has helped shape Canada’s leading boutique consultancy that business leaders trust today. Mark has experience across a range of industries, most notably retail and consumer goods, loyalty programs, and business services including marketing services. Mark regularly acts as a facilitator for our clients where he’s known for his ability to manage tough discussions, from strategic planning to re-organizations.
Mark is a frequent commentator on business media, including BNN, The Globe and Mail, Yahoo Finance and the CBC, providing his views on business events and trends.
A firm believer in giving back to the communities in which he works and lives, Mark lends his time to a range of important causes, including Food Allergy Canada, The School of Social Entrepreneurs of Ontario, West Neighborhood House and Help for Children.
David Saffer
Partner
David brings three decades of experience advising retailers and consumer goods companies. He leads our consumer insight practice and supports our clients in a range of areas from brand positioning to hands-on marketing planning and execution.
David was a founding partner of Groupe SECOR’s Toronto office (now KPMG Strategy) and later co-founded Jackman Reinvents where he built the management consulting and research practices. David began his career with Hill + Knowlton Strategies (DECIMA) before joining Saffer Advertising for several years prior to it being acquired by HAVAS.
David received his B.Sc. from the University of Toronto (Trinity College) and has served on the Board of Directors of Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and the National Ballet of Canada. He is based in Halifax, N.S.
Kamal Gautam
Partner
Kamal is a senior business advisor and head of our Healthcare practice. He brings 20 years experience, including CEO leadership of biotech companies. He provides strategy and operations counsel to our clients across the healthcare ecosystem.
Prior to joining SATOV, Kamal spent a decade with Oliver Wyman leading project teams in the healthcare sector in the USA and Canada. He also acted as an advisor to numerous companies across healthcare and biotech. Before that, he was a president and a CEO of a biotechnology services company, BioQuest Innovations. Here, Kamal founded four biotech R&D companies, leading to the IPO of one of these on the TSX Venture Exchange.
In addition to his deep experience across the healthcare ecosystem, Kamal is an accomplished professional providing mentorship and leadership the SATOV team.
Kamal earned his MBA at Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.
Andy Spears
Senior Advisor, Financial Services
Andy is a Financial Services senior advisor at SATOV. He brings over 20 years of financial services experience as a consultant, operating executive and entrepreneur. Prior to joining SATOV, he was a Managing Director of Novantas, the VP Channel Management for Presidents Choice Financial at CIBC and the CEO of NewCan where he focused on bringing a new banking model to Canada. Andy spent his early consulting career at Bain & Company and Mitchell Madison Group.
Andy brings deep financial services experience having advised financial institutions in Canada, US and UK. His expertise includes retail banking strategy, distribution, product design, fintech pricing and consumer research.
Andy graduated from Yale University with a Master’s in Public and Private Management and from the University of Toronto with a B.A.
Alan Huth
Senior Advisor, Supply Chain
Alan is a Supply Chain senior advisor at SATOV. He brings over 25 years of experience driving operations improvement including logistics, supply chain optimization, and cost and complexity reduction. Alan began his consulting career at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting and also worked at PWC. He has also held engineering, management, and executive positions prior to moving into consulting.
Alan brings significant project experience across numerous industries including manufacturing, healthcare products, food & beverage, chemical and consumer goods.
Alan received an MBA in Operations, Finance and Marketing from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from California State University.
Natalia Garaeva
Financial Controller
Natalia is Financial Controller (CPA CMA) with more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance. At SATOV Natalia supports all finance and accounting functions. She is responsible for managing finances, supporting internal processes and partnering with clients and vendors to ensure smooth transactions.
Prior to joining Satov she worked as a controller/head of finance in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, construction, tech industries.
Outside of work, she loves travelling and spends a lot of time outdoors enjoying snowboarding and horseback riding.
Louise Sherman
Consultant
Louise is a business process and project management professional with a unique ability to drive operational and organizational change. She holds an MBA from Queen’s university, is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional and has a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Louise began her career at the Royal Bank of Canada where she was responsible for the process redesign and automation of the bank’s global banking infrastructure. After leaving the bank, she spent over a decade undertaking several successful entrepreneurial ventures.
Louise began at SATOV Consultants in 2004 and has since been working at the firm on and off. She specializes in process engineering, project management and post-merger integration across financial services, healthcare and business services sectors.
Natasha Raffa
Senior Consultant
Natasha’s project experience includes corporate growth strategy and commercial due diligence. She has worked in various industries including retail, IT and manufacturing. Internally she supports SATOV’s financial services practice.
Natasha has an Honours Financial Mathematics degree and a BBA from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. She loves spending time in the kitchen with new recipes and getting outdoors to stay active.
Liam Johnson
Consultant
Liam joined SATOV upon completion of his MBA from Ivey Business School. Prior to business school, he worked in financial planning and analysis for a telecommunications company, and developed marketing programs with a branding agency for clients in a variety of industries. Outside of work, Liam enjoys travelling, playing guitar, and both playing and watching many different sports.
Adam Kovalcik
Consultant
Adam’s project experience includes corporate strategy, commercial due diligence, implementation, and salesforce effectiveness. He has worked in industries including commercial manufacturing and services, residential products and services, financial services, technology, private healthcare, and retail. Internally, Adam supports SATOV’s analytics and knowledge management capabilities.
Adam holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School and a BESc in Software Engineering at Western University. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, running, and discovering new restaurants.
Sophie Lewick
Senior Research Analyst
Sophie’s project focus is in consumer research. Her project experience includes managing qualitative and quantitative research programs, and conducting research for commercial due diligence engagements. She has worked with clients in media, healthcare, consumer goods, and education.
Sophie has a B.A. in Psychology from McGill University. Outside of work, she plays hockey and tennis, and enjoys painting and graphic design.
Hayley Hummel
Senior Research Analyst
Hayley’s project focus is in consumer research. Her project experience includes managing qualitative and quantitative research programs, and conducting research for commercial due diligence engagements. She has worked with clients in various industries including education, healthcare, and consumer goods.
Before joining SATOV Hayley worked at Ipsos in marketing research and brand health tracking. She has a B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and trying new restaurants around Toronto.
Alexandru Pantea
Senior Analyst
Alex’s past experience includes commercial due diligence, equity research at multiple funds and strategy at a large pension fund. He graduated from the BBA/BMath Double Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo. Outside of work, Alex enjoys climbing, tennis, travelling, and yelling at NBA players on TV from his living room.
Adam Wallimohamed
Analyst
Prior to joining SATOV, Adam worked in corporate strategy for an information technology company and a financial services company. He holds a BBA degree from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. Outside of work, Adam enjoys spending cycling, watching sports, and staying up to date with the latest technology trends.
Hayden Carver
Analyst
Prior to joining SATOV, Hayden worked in various industries including SaaS, IT, and Financial Services. He attended Wilfrid Laurier University, where he earned a BBA degree with a specialization in Finance, along with an International Policy Option and a Minor in Economics. Outside of work, Hayden enjoys golfing, reading, exercising, and is an avid sports fan.
Jake Erdman
Analyst
Jake comes to us with dual degree: an HBA from Ivey Business School and a BA in urban development from the University of Western Ontario. Through his studies, Jake gained a deep understanding of how different levels of government and business tackle the financial feasibility of important infrastructure projects above ground and below the sea! Outside of work, Jake enjoys playing tennis, water sports, and reading — especially autobiographies.
Alison Schouten
Analyst
Before joining SATOV, Alison worked in multiple industries including Insurance, Financial Services, Luxury F&B and Corporate Strategy. She received a BBA degree from Wilfrid Laurier University with a concentration in Strategic Management. She loves to travel and has spent time living in Vancouver and Spain throughout her academic career. In addition to travelling, Alison likes doing anything outdoors, particularly running and hiking, but she also enjoys reading with a cup of tea in hand.
Owen Holland
Analyst
Before joining SATOV, Owen worked in both the technology sector and in pharmaceutical consulting. He completed his MSc in business analytics from Ivey Business School and his BSc in life science from Queen’s University. Outside of work, Owen enjoys playing hockey, cooking, reading, and playing fantasy sports.
Rhea Dutta
Analyst, Intern
Prior to joining SATOV, Rhea worked in Marketing Strategy at a large Canadian retailer. She is currently pursuing an HBA at the Ivey Business School at Western University. Growing up, Rhea was a competitive swimmer and still enjoys swimming, running, cycling, and spending time outdoors.
Kristen Nessim
Analyst, Intern
Prior to joining SATOV, Kristen worked in the public sector and technology consulting. She is currently pursuing an HBA at the Ivey Business School at Western University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, fashion design, and hiking.
Christine Jones
Administrative/Executive Asistant
Christine coordinates the day-to-day operational activities at SATOV, directing flow of communication, planning and overseeing events, and executing projects. Prior to joining SATOV, she worked as an EA to senior executives with global responsibilities in the technology and private equity space.
Christine started her career in fashion working for several Canadian designers before moving into event planning and eventually administration to marry her creative and business abilities/interests. In her spare time, Christine dabbles in catering, sharing her chef skills and love of food at parties and events with her friends and family.