Rob Gerhard, CFA – CEO, CIO

Rob, a founder of Umbono, is a chartered accountant (SA), a CFA charterholder, and holds an MSc (Chemical Engineering) degree. He has 23 years experience in investment management, business strategy and the operational management of natural resources companies. Since 2003, Rob has led the Umbono team in building a significant natural resources investment portfolio – mining and energy assets – from a negligible starting capital base. Rob serves as Chief Investment Officer for Umbono Capital with overall responsibility for the firm’s investing activities, and leadership over its portfolio companies

Rob Symons, CA(SA) – Chief Financial Officer

Rob is a Chartered Accountant (SA). He serves as CFO of Umbono’s North American investment companies, including the Riverside companies, and has been with Umbono since 2000 in investment banking, corporate advisory, natural resources investing and operations management roles. Rob has wide experience in the field of finance, including directing economic development programs in third world countries with an international aid organization

Bob Van Hoy – Chief Operating Officer, Energy Ventures

Bob holds a BSc (Electrical Engineering) from Purdue University. He has extensive experience in oil and gas production management and project development. Previously a facility engineer for EP Energy he was responsible for the design and construction of common point facilities, pipelines, and well-site production equipment. He has provided engineering and management expertise in the Eagle Ford Shale, the New Albany Shale and the Michigan Antrim Shale. Bob focuses on the active operational management of Umbono’s investment assets

Helen Speek – Managing Director

Helen, a Managing Director in Umbono’s healthcare private equity investment business, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).  She has spent over 20 years in public accounting and management consulting including leadership roles at KPMG and Deloitte, and M&A work at McKinsey. Helen’s healthcare experience evolves around outsourced CFO services to healthcare firms and transaction advisory to the middle market firms in the industry. Helen received her Master of Business Administration degree from University of Delaware