Our Team

Iqbal is Chairman of Zynik Capital Corporation. He has extensive experience starting
and scaling businesses into successful and profitable companies.

His past accomplishments include purchasing the Equitable Group in 1983. He ran this
federally chartered financial institution until 1990 and remains a significant shareholder
of the $2 billion publicly traded company. He also managed and was a major
shareholder of Seel Mortgage Investment Corporation, the first publicly traded mortgage
investment company in Canada.

As of early 2025, Equitable Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB),
manages over $74.1 billion in assets, positioning it as Canada’s seventh-largest
Schedule I bank by assets. In addition to its on-balance-sheet assets, EQB Inc.
oversees a total of $132 billion in combined assets under management and
administration (AUM/AUA) as of the first quarter of 2025.

Furthermore, Iqbal has acquired several companies that he has taken public, such as
Stephenson’s Rental Services in Toronto. He continues to enjoy building promising
organizations.

Iqbal holds an MBA from the University of Warwick. He is also an alumnus of The
Harvard Business School, a graduate of the Institute of Marketing and a member of both
the Young Presidents’ Organization and Chief Executives’ Organization.

Additionally, he is a Senior International Advisor to the Business Advisory Group For
The World Council of Religious Leaders, a UN organization.

Paul is CEO of Zynik Manufacturing Group. He works closely with all Zynik Manufacturing Group portfolio companies on operational improvements, group synergies and strategic acquisition opportunities.

He has over 25 years of manufacturing experience in the automotive and industrial sectors. Prior to joining Zynik, Paul held multiple senior positions including President of a large Canadian manufacturing company specializing in power generation and industrial componentry.

Mary is the Executive VP and CFO of Zynik Capital Corporation. She works closely with the Chairman and Executive Directors to support all companies under the Zynik umbrella.

She has over 30 years of financial executive experience in the manufacturing industry. She specializes in business growth and development strategies, corporate synergies, financial management and control, and improvement initiatives for operations and cost management.

Mary holds a Bachelor’s of Business degree with a major in Accounting from Brock University, where she was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s medal. She is also a CPA and CA.

With over 14 years of legal expertise, Ben specializes in mergers and acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, and other general corporate matters. As Senior VP & General Counsel at Zynik, Ben plays a key role on the senior management team, working closely with other executives to provide strategic business and legal counsel. He manages and supports a range of transactions while also overseeing day-to-day legal operations for the company and assisting its portfolio companies.

Before joining Zynik, Ben was an associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC in Palo Alto, Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto and a boutique venture capital firm in San Francisco. During his time in private practice, he represented numerous companies, private equity and venture capital funds, and other investors in hundreds of transactions throughout the world. Ben was also the General Counsel of an international venture capital fund and has co-founded, invested in, and acted as an advisor to a number of startups.

Ben holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is licensed to practice law in Ontario and California.

Nabil is the Executive Director of Zynik Capital. He is responsible for the strategy, team, and operations across Zynik’s global network of businesses and investments.

He has worked on the founding, acquisition, and growth of multiple early stage companies and established brands, many of which are part of Zynik’s portfolio. His recent roles include Founder, Chairman & CEO of Noble Iron and Texada Software.

Nabil holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and CEO (Chief Executives Organization).

A serial entrepreneur with a proven track record, Nadeem has founded and scaled companies across diverse industries, including self-development, health tech, ag tech, fintech, and entertainment.

Nadeem made his mark in Silicon Valley after founding Basis Science, the world’s first wrist-based comprehensive vital sign monitor. Basis was acquired by Intel for approximately $150 million, solidifying Nadeem’s reputation as a visionary in connected sensor technology. He went on to found BioBeats, a global AI leader that leveraged adaptive media to address mental health challenges. BioBeats was later acquired by HUMA, further demonstrating Nadeem’s commitment to innovation in healthcare.

His entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond tech. As Chief Shepard at the Mushroom Farm—a 753-acre mixed-use facility on the Northern California coast—Nadeem prototyped integrated systems for food, power, and water sovereignty. He now lives in Costa Rica with his family, where he is preparing to launch his next regenerative agriculture venture.

Nadeem holds a B.A. from Babson College, where he co-founded the Undergraduate Incubator Program and was a beloved personality on Babson College Radio. He has delivered two TED Talks, reflecting on how technology can reconnect us to what truly matters.

A proud father to two daughters, Nadeem spends his time practicing Qi Gong, farming, and enjoying the bounty of tropical fruits. He remains deeply passionate about fostering innovation, empowering wellness, and building inclusive communities.

Nadeem Kassam currently Managing Director at Zynik.

Nadeem received a B.A. from Babson College. He was known on campus as co-founder of the Undergraduate Incubator Program and a prominent personality on Babson College Radio.

Nadeem is a proud father to two beautiful daughters. He enjoys Qi Gong, farming, and tropical fruits.

Zahra is a Director of Zynik Capital Corporation. Zahra has extensive experience in start-up as the Founder and Director of Monti Kids, a first-of-its-kind early childhood educational platform. She was nominated for the 2016 Dalai Lama Unsung Heroes of Compassion Awards for her work with children.

Additionally, she is an internationally certified Montessori teacher with notable experience as a school counselor and as a private consultant to schools and families.

Zahra holds a BA (psychology, summa cum laude) from Harvard University and a Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Larry is the President and CEO of the AarKel Tooling Group. This group has 8 manufacturing facilities in total, with 5 in Ontario, 2 in the United States, 1 in Mexico, and an engineering firm in Bangalore, India consisting of 350+ skilled trade associates.

He started his career in 1989 with AarKel Tool&Die, then pursued Engineering and stamping dies to later return to AarKel. He has grown The AarKel Tooling Group from $30 million to a $90 million group, listed among the top 5 manufacturing facilities in North America. AarKel’s facilities are strategically located across North America to support growing demand.

Larry is a graduate of St. Clair College in Windsor. As a lifelong learner, he is continuing his studies with courses at The Kellogg School of Business and The Harvard Business School.

Larry currently sits on the board for Chatham Kent Business Leadership for Manufacturing and the CTMA (Canadian Tooling & Machining Association).

Chris is the President and CEO of Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc., an engineered-to-order tool shop located in Midland, Ontario. The company services an international client base in the automotive, aerospace, and home and building industries.

Chris started at Weber in June 2002 as a Controller, then was promoted to CFO in 2005. In 2007, he became President of the company. Prior to Weber, he worked in public accounting with BDO LLP and Hards Person Chartered Accountants for more than 9 years. Chris serves as a Director on a number of local NPO boards, including the audit committee for the Simcoe Country District School Board and the advisory committee to Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation. For 7 years, he also served as President and Treasurer for the Credit Counseling of Simcoe County.

Chris received his three-year Diploma of Business Administration in Accounting from Georgian College in 1994. He also completed his Bachelor’s of Business Administration at Lakehead University. In 1997-98, he attended York University to study tax law. In 1998, he attained his professional designation as a Chartered Accountant.

Over the last 10 years, Chris has continued his development through Harvard Business School, Zynik training sessions, and special training events.

Jeff is the CEO of the RPS Companies, which comprises RPS Composites and the Fire and Life Safety Portfolio Companies. Jeff was previously the Senior Vice President of Envirosystems Inc. and has held various leadership roles with other companies.

Jeff holds a Masters of Business Administration and is a professional engineer.

Adolfo is the President of ZMG Foundry Division. He is a metallurgic engineer with over 30 years of experience in the foundry industry.

Throughout his career, he has held a wide range of positions including Quality Inspector, Floor Supervisor, Production Controller, Buyer/Planner, Engineering, Sales, and General Manager. His crowning achievement was becoming President of several companies.

Adolfo also served on the Canadian Foundry Association’s Board of Directors for 9 years. During his tenure, he supported the Association in different capacities, including as President from 2019 to 2021.

Adolfo is family-oriented and passionate about foundries. He firmly believe that continuous learning will help actualize new opportunities in our ever-changing market landscape.

Chris is the President of Armada Automotive. He has spent his entire career in the Canadian Automotive Industry.

Chris joined Armada in 2001 to establish and subsequently run the product engineering group. Under his purview, Armada has earned a sterling reputation for the design and development of automotive door handle systems. With a strong team of experts supporting the company, Chris is leading Armada as it continues to develop and manufacture engineered systems for some of the premier vehicles built in North America.

Chris holds an Engineering degree from Queen’s University.

In his spare time, Chris and his wife run a small horse farm in Lindsay, Ontario.

Habib is Vice President of Finance of Zynik Manufacturing Group. In his role he supports the CFO and Executive Management team in decision making related to Manufacturing business of the Zynik Capital.

He has over two decades of experience working in diverse sectors of business including Manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Services in different finance and accounting roles. Before joining Zynik Habib has worked for some big manufacturing companies including 3M Canada and Magna International. He champions value add through continuous process improvement and building high performance teams.

Habib holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting and CPA & CA from Ontario.

Robert (Bob) is President of Niagara Investment Castings. He is a lifelong foundryman who is dedicated to the success of his company, which he has been a part of for more than 32 years.

Bob joined the company in 1989, when it was still called Johnson Matthey Precision Castings. He worked as a Supervisor on the foundry floor for 10 years. As the company transitioned to integrate a higher-quality investment casting process, Bob played a significant part in its development. In 1999, he accepted a position as Casting Sales Specialist, bringing on multiple new jobs and clients.

By 2015, the company had completed its transition into a fully modernized investment casting manufacturer. Bob accepted a promotion to Plant Manager, returning to the foundry floor to oversee the entire operation. Following Zynik’s acquisition in 2021, Bob was promoted to President.

Bob is a graduate of Niagara College’s Operations Management program.

Paul is the Vice President of Marketing for Mastergrain and Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. Paul’s passion for business and brands led him to start his own marketing agency and consultancy during the 2000s tech boom.

After several successful years at the helm, Paul sold his agency and went on to serve as a senior leader for several global technology and manufacturing organizations. In these roles, Paul worked to reposition the organizations and modernize their marketing strategies to propel them towards growth in existing and new markets.

Paul received his Bachelor’s of Commerce degree from Toronto Metropolitan University and holds minor degrees in Psychology and Organizational Development. As a lifelong learner, Paul has always sought out educational experiences and is currently working towards his MBA.

David Dembski is a bilingual operations executive with over 25 years of experience in leading business transformation and operational excellence across global markets. Known for his strategic growth mindset and hands-on leadership, David brings a robust blend of financial acumen and engineering expertise to optimize processes, reduce costs, and drive impactful results.

His career spans leadership roles across manufacturing and industrial sectors, where he has consistently fostered innovation, team engagement, and strategic vision. At RPS Industrial Group, he assumes full P&L accountability and leads with empathy, supporting transformative growth through creative and collaborative strategies.

David earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Polytechnique Montréal and his MBA from Queen’s University

A graduate of Georgian College with honors, Ella has held a number of positions in event and project management and coordination and brings a careful eye to detail and a commitment to success to every project she leads for Zynik and our companies.

Andrew is the Vice President of the Building Services Platform, leading critical work to drive the platform forward including acquisitions, organic growth and operational improvement throughout the group. He is also the General Manager of Superior Sprinkler, where he provides strategic oversight and day to day leadership to the team. Previously Andrew was Manager of Corporate Development at Zynik Manufacturing Group, where he was primarily responsible for leading the sourcing and acquisition of highly skilled manufacturing and industrial service companies throughout North America.

Prior to Zynik, Andrew worked as an Equity Research Analyst for an investment bank, hedge fund and pension fund. He continues to leverage his past experience to explore equity investment opportunities. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a BA Financial Math (both with distinction) from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Gary is the President of Superior Sprinkler. Prior to joining the company in June 2021, he co-founded Superior Sprinkler in 1986.

Gary currently oversees SSCL in Ontario and Alberta, as well as Save All Fire Services in Edmonton, Alberta. In his role, he helps build the Fire and Life Safety platform in collaboration with Zynik Business Development, expanding its current portfolio of companies and becoming a leader in fire protection across Canada.

Ahmad is the Manager of Acquisitions and Special Projects at Zynik Manufacturing Group. He is responsible for conducting due diligence and supporting the post-close integration process for new acquisitions.

Previously, Ahmad was a member of the finance team at a real estate development company in Toronto. He has over 5 years of experience providing business consulting and deal advisory services to companies across multiple industries in West Africa.

Ahmad holds a Bachelor’s of Economics from the University of Bath, UK and a second degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA), a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and a CFA Level III candidate.

Ginna is a VP of Finance at Zynik Capital Corporation. She manages internal control policies, legal compliance and financial reporting. Prior to Zynik, Ginna served as Controller of Pulse Tracer Technologies, a Zynik portfolio company.

Ginna holds a Master’s Degree (electrical engineering) from the University of British Columbia, a Master’s degree (investigative forensic accounting) from the University of Toronto, and a Paralegal Certificate (corporate) from the Vancouver Community College. Additionally, Ginna is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) in the Province of British Columbia and a Fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) in the United Kingdom.

She is an active volunteer in various local charities and accounting bodies. Moreover, Ginna is a trained pianist and holds the Diplomas of Associate of The Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT), Licentiate of The Royal Schools of Music (LRSM), and Licentiate of The Trinity College London (LTCL) in piano performance.

Tom is the President of Lake Foundry 2020 Ltd., a gray and ductile iron metal casting facility in Grimsby, Ontario. He was previosly the General Manager of Lake Foundry for over 23 years, and prior to that, he was a Mechanical Engineering Technician with Foster Wheeler Ltd. and the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.

Tom graduated from Niagara Collage as a Mechanical Engineering Technician and has a Metallurgy of Iron and Steel Certificate from McMaster University.

In his spare time, he enjoys his garden and the occasional game of golf.

Tenured finance professional with strength in budgeting, reporting, and analytics in multi entities and multi currencies.

Tala has worked across different industries (pharmaceutical, distribution and investment), acquiring a multi-disciplinary knowledge and experience in planning, budgeting and reporting.

Julie works to support Zynik’s portfolio companies by developing high converting, innovative digital approaches to the complete customer journey. With a bachelor’s degree in PR, Advertising, and Communication and over 20 years of experience in marketing, branding, and eCommerce, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a results-oriented mindset to every project. She is passionate about delivering exceptional consumer experiences and winning strategies to promote growth across the Zynik portfolio.

Huub is the Chief Innovation Officer and Head of the Zynik Innovation Centre. He is responsible for establishing centralized innovation and process engineering capabilities. His work supports Zynik’s ability to help its portfolio companies develop novel technologies and products, while increasing efficiency and productivity through process improvements or industrial automation solutions.

Prior to joining Zynik, Huub was CEO at Structo3D, a company he co-founded in 2014. Structo3D designs, develops, and builds 3D printers tailored for dental applications using its proprietary Mask Stereolithography (MSLA) technology. After launching their first product in 2016, the team went through several years of rapid growth to become the global leader it is today.

Huub holds a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.Sc. in Management of Technology from the National University of Singapore.

Albert van Santvoort spearheads the Zynik Founder Scholarship program, focusing on strategic outreach and fostering meaningful support for scholarship recipients throughout their educational journey. With a background in journalism, Albert brings a passion for storytelling and a deep commitment to student success. Prior to joining Zynik, Albert worked in both radio and print journalism, contributing to platforms like Business in Vancouver and Vancouver Is Awesome. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of British Columbia and is known for his dedication to innovative communication and mentorship.

Dan is an Acquisition Analyst at Zynik Manufacturing Group. He supports the development and growth of the Zynik portfolio by finding and acquiring highly skilled manufacturing and industrial service companies.

His previous experience includes providing financial services for the mechanical engineering and HVAC construction industries. Dan is driven by his passion for working closely with businesses to develop process-based solutions.

Dan holds a CPA designation and an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Guelph.

Nicholas is the VP of Zynik’s Foundry Platform. He works closely with the leadership teams across all Zynik’s Foundry companies to deliver exceptional work for our customers.

In his previous role at Deloitte LLP, he worked in the private audit practice and was a Regional Leader for the company’s United Way Program and other volunteer projects in the Niagara region.

Nicholas holds a CPA designation and an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph.

Shamir is an Innovation Engineer at the Zynik Innovation Center. He works with Zynik’s portfolio companies to pursue both disruptive and incremental innovations.

He got his start in academia while conducting research in scientific imaging and nanotechnology. He then moved into the industry and joined Structo 3D, a 3D printing company specializing in dental applications. There, he held several roles in engineering, product development, and technical research, making key contributions to Structo’s evolution from an early stage startup to a leader in the space.

Shamir holds a Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore.