Kash Pashootan, Chief Executive Officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc., entered the financial services industry in 1999. With more than 22 years of experience, he founded First Avenue Advisory in 2009 at Raymond James while he served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, which then became First Avenue Investment Counsel Inc.

His passion is in uncovering investment opportunities and in people. As a trusted resource for the most respected news outlets, Kash has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Hong Kong Times, Canadian Business, National Post and The Globe & Mail.

He lives by the pursuit of success in business, health and family. He enjoys art, documentaries and spending time with his wife, daughter and son.

As president, Leah leads the business and operations of the firm and serves as a strategic advisor to the CEO.

Previously, Leah was a partner at a global private equity firm, where she led the institutionalization of the firm alongside its growth. She served on the Executive Committee and the Investment Committee, and held various roles, including head of firm management, general counsel, and chief compliance officer. Leah began her career as a business law lawyer. She was a partner with Goodmans LLP, a leading Canadian law firm, where her practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and advising family offices.

A people-first leader, Leah is passionate about developing high-performing teams and inclusive cultures and inspiring collective growth.

Leah has gained recognition for mid-market excellence by the Canadian General Counsel Awards and as a changemaker by Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers.

Leah holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management & Economics from the University of Toronto. She also holds a GSB.D designation and certification in sustainability and ESG through Global Competent Boards. Leah is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Leah values family, community and personal growth. Happiest with her husband and two children out in nature, she also enjoys theatre, travel, and reading. Leah is dedicated to giving back to her community and has held board and committee roles for various charities over the years.

Brian leads the public markets investment team, formulating, executing and communicating investment strategies and processes across various investment mandates, drawing on his 27 years of investment experience.

In 2003, Brian co-founded STYLUS Asset Management, where he managed equity funds for high-net-worth families for eight years as Vice-President & Portfolio Manager. He later managed a multi-billion dollar balanced fund mandate for five years as Vice-President & Portfolio Manager with AGF Investments before spending five years serving high-net-worth clients in Canada and the U.S. as Senior Vice-President & Portfolio Manager with Goodreid Investment Counsel.

A CFA charterholder since 2000, Brian currently chairs the CFA Society Toronto Board of Directors. Brian also holds the Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and currently serves on the university's Governing Council.

Brian embraces volunteerism, community and mentorship and is the proud father of a teenage son who enjoys spending time with family and enthusiastically exploring far flung corners of the planet.

Joseph leads the finance and operations functions and works alongside the President to deliver on the firm’s strategic objectives.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Joseph led the digital transformation of the asset management practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – deploying emerging technologies nationwide. He also represented the business in managing some of the largest clients in assurance with a focus on public and private investment management firms, hedge funds, pension plans, and family offices.

Joseph volunteers as a Fellow at the School of Accounting and Finance Fellowship Program at the University of Waterloo, where he is also an alumni of the Master of Accounting program. Joseph holds CPA and CA designations.

Outside the office, Joseph enjoys cooking, baking and sharing his love of food and drink with those around him.

Nicholas leads Family Office planning through his deep tax, trust, and estate background while collaborating with clients’ external advisors to achieve a true Advisory Board for families. His knowledge coupled with his personalized approach is what distinguishes Nicholas in the industry.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Nicholas served over a decade at Deloitte in tax at their Private Client Group. His 15+ years of experience advising high net worth families on personal and corporate taxation is a key pillar in every Family Office client’s success with planning and co-ordination of their wealth.

Nicholas graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Commerce and Honours in Accounting. He holds designations as a CPA, CA, Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and CIM.

Nicholas enjoys travel with his wife, volunteering with the local hospital, and lecturing on taxation at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University.

A seasoned global executive, Michael brings over four decades of experience to First Avenue. Michael supports the firm’s corporate development and strategy initiatives.

Michael has led transformative programs for Deloitte clients worldwide, overseeing complex initiatives in 26 global geographies. Notably, he chaired Deloitte Canada and Chile’s Board, contributing to key committees in Strategy, Finance, Investment, and Risk. Michael held executive positions, including leadership roles in Deloitte's Federal Financial Services Industry cluster and a decade-long collaboration with MD Financial.

He is a Certified Management Consultant and holds an ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management. Beyond his professional achievements, Michael is dedicated to community service, volunteering on multiple boards, including the Telfer School of Management and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation Campaign Cabinet.

Michael values family, teamwork, and personal drive, exemplifying these principles in his roles as a husband and father to two adult sons. Passionate about cultural exploration, he has visited 41 countries, enjoying hiking, biking, writing poetry, and quality time with loved ones during his travels and leisure.

Sammir focuses on client relationship management, portfolio & risk management, and asset allocation for high-net-worth families and institutional clients.

Sammir is a wealth management executive with significant leadership experience in the investment industry. Prior to joining First Avenue, Sammir spent 15 years at Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc., most recently as a Managing Director on their Client Wealth Management team. Prior to that, he spent 4 years at KBSH Capital Management as a Senior Analyst.

Sammir obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta, holds the Chartered Investment Management designation and is a Registered Portfolio Manager. He sits on the Advisory Board for AREF Scholarship Fund and is a current Board Member of Peacebuilders Canada.

Sammir enjoys skiing, soccer and good food, but most of all he enjoys travelling with his wife and 4 kids.

Michael is a member of the Private Client Group and manages and oversees investment portfolios for his clients.

Michael is a seasoned portfolio manager with over three decades of experience in wealth management. Michael has held senior roles with some of Canada’s largest fund companies throughout his career. Clients appreciate the insights Michael brings having experienced several market cycles over his career, coupled with his down-to-earth, personalized approach to service.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics and a Chartered Investment Management Designation.

Michael is an avid outdoorsman and hockey coach in his spare time and enjoys spending time with family, friends and his dog Troy.

Jesse oversees the portfolio management and asset allocation for Private Client Group and Family Office clients.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Jesse worked as a portfolio manager with BMO Private Investment Counsel co-managing the portfolios of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Through his time at BMO, Jesse gained experience working with North American equity and fixed income strategies and was the subject matter expert for alternative investments including various hedge fund and private equity strategies, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit.

Jesse holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University and is a CFA charterholder and a CAIA charterholder. As a Carleton Ravens football alumni, Jesse continues to volunteer in the local football community at the university and high school level.

Jesse enjoys staying active outside of work, reading and spending time with his wife, son and dog.

Jason oversees portfolio management and asset allocation for clients within the Private Client Group. He builds meaningful relationships with the clients he supports and delivers exceptional service.

Jason has 16 years of portfolio management and financial planning experience.

He is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, Chartered Investment Manager, Certified International Wealth Manager, and a Level 3 Chartered Financial Analyst candidate. Jason graduated from the University of Ottawa (2012, Summa Cum Laude – Silver Medalist).

Jason serves on the board of Options Bytown, a supportive housing not-for-profit working to permanently end homelessness. He also serves the board of The National Children’s Botanical Garden of Canada, a national charity focused on youth nature-based education. Jason has previously volunteered with the FP Canada Standard Council and the advisory board of the finance program at Algonquin College.

Jason is a fan of the Ottawa Senators and has a deep appreciation for country music, for it is truly three chords and the truth.

Ian is a member of the public markets investment team, where he drives the strategic direction of one of the firm’s equities funds and provides support on other equity mandates.

Ian began his capital markets career in 2000 as an Equity Research Analyst and worked for various Canadian banks. In 2007, he moved to Hong Kong and worked on the proprietary desk at J.P Morgan and Standard Bank PLC. Returning to Toronto in 2013, Ian was a Senior Investment Analyst at AGF Investments covering global equities. Prior to joining First Avenue in 2022, Ian was a Senior Manager at Scotiabank as part of the Portfolio Advisory Group overseeing the U.S. and Global equity guided portfolios.

Ian graduated from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Business Administration degree. He is a CPA and has been a CFA charterholder since 2003.

Outside the office, Ian enjoys a healthy and active lifestyle with interest in Thai boxing, snowboarding, and traveling.

Brandon supports the First Avenue alternative investment platform through the full investment cycle, from initial investment underwriting to post-transaction value creation.

He began his finance career in 2016, most recently working in M&A at Constellation Software Inc.Prior to that, Brandon worked as an investment analyst covering both public equities and credit at various boutique investment firms located in Toronto. His areas of expertise include financial analysis, commercial and operational due diligence, and transaction structuring.

Brandon holds an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Brandon enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of the office, reading, and staying active.

Working in the Family Office Practice, Bushra supports clients in achieving their tax planning and compliance-related objectives.

Bushra joined First Avenue in July 2021, bringing with her over nine years of experience in public accounting, where she was a Senior Manager servicing private companies and their owners. With experience working at both a Big 4 and a mid-size global accounting firm, Bushra has worked alongside clients from a wide range of industries.

Bushra is a CPA, CGA, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce program. Bushra has also completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course and holds a Trust and Estate Practitioner designation.

Outside of the office, Bushra is a bookworm and enjoys dabbling in portrait photography.

Dedicated to outstanding service, Beata supports the Family Office Practice by developing comprehensive financial plans and providing personalized wealth management advice to First Avenue clients.

Beata has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and began her career with Corporate Planning Associates (later acquired by Scotiabank). Prior to joining First Avenue, Beata was a Financial Planner at Raymond James Ltd. servicing financial advisors across the country. For her exceptional service, she has received multiple Service 1st Recognition Awards.

After moving to Canada from Poland, Beata graduated with Honours in Business Administration from the CompuCollage School Business in Vancouver and over the years has completed numerous financial industry courses. She has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to continuing education, having earned her a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.

Outside of the office, Beata enjoys beauty of nature, hiking, travel adventures and photography.

Supporting the Family Office Practice and the Private Client Group, Julie provides clients with comprehensive financial plans while working with portfolio managers to achieve clients’ tax, estate, retirement, education, planning goals and objectives.

Over the past seven years, Julie has acquired a diversity of experiences working with high-net-worth clients and families managing their wealth. While working as an associate at RBC Dominion Securities, Julie first discovered her interest in financial planning and she brings that passion to her work at First Avenue, delivering exceptional service to the firm’s clients.

Julie is a Chartered Investment Manager and Certified Financial Planner and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Outside of work, Julie enjoys capturing life moments through her camera lens, visiting art exhibitions and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Connor ensures a culture of compliance, supports efficient operations, and delivers outstanding service to First Avenue clients.

Connor joined First Avenue in 2017 from RBC. Connor began his career at First Avenue as part of the Family Office practice where he served some of our largest and most complex clients. In building on this experience, Connor has since assumed progressively greater responsibilities in supporting our operations and compliance verticals.

Connor is a Chartered Investment Manager and stays at the forefront of regulatory and industry trends as a member of the Portfolio Management Association of Canada.

Connor finds relaxation outdoors and enjoys spending time with his wife at the cottage. He is an amateur beekeeper, and his colleagues would all agree he is an excellent cook.

Venusha manages First Avenue's key finance functions, including treasury management, financial operations, forecasting, and financial reporting.

With an extensive background spanning over a decade in the finance industry, she has assumed progressively senior leadership roles at institutions such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bank of Montreal, and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Venusha has supported and worked alongside professionals in asset management, capital markets, wealth management, and pension plans in providing direction on matters of governance, management, financial and operational controls.

Venusha is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. She actively seeks volunteer opportunities within local communities to support those in need.

Beyond her professional commitments, Venusha finds fulfilment in spending quality time with her loved ones, baking, exploring new destinations, and embracing physical challenges as an ardent fitness enthusiast.

Leading marketing and communications for the firm, Charlotte oversees investor relations, corporate communications and growth marketing strategies, while also driving the community pillar.

Charlotte has a decade of experience supporting and growing finance and technology businesses, including RBC Capital Markets and RBC Technology & Operations, and was also a co-owner of a successful photography studio. Her areas of expertise include creative direction and production, brand management, investor relations, public relations, sponsorships, events, corporate social responsibility, and diversity and inclusion.

Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing and communications from Ted Rogers School of Business Management at Ryerson University (now known as Toronto Metropolitan University). Charlotte has volunteered as a member of various community committees focused on promoting and creating equitable environments.

Charlotte lives by health and wellness and enjoys travelling, exploring new restaurants, and engaging in creative arts.

Ethan supports the client service and equities teams and is involved in strategy and community initiatives for the firm.

Prior to joining First Avenue, Ethan was one of eight graduates selected to participate in CIBC Wealth Management Rotational program. Throughout his time at CIBC, Ethan worked with Strategic Initiatives and Business Intelligence group, Private Banking, and CIBC Wood Gundy Advisory.

Ethan graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Management and Organizational studies. During his time at Western University, Ethan was one of six students who received a scholarship to complete their level one CFA exam.

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys travelling and staying active through various sports.

Kim supports the Private Client Group and Family Office Practice.

Before joining First Avenue, Kim worked at CIBC for four years as an Associate Business Advisor. During this time, she managed a group of business owners and entrepreneurs, handling tasks such as small business financing, financial analysis, investing, and day-to-day banking. Kim's experience in assisting business owners has given her a strong understanding of simplifying matters for clients, allowing them to prioritize their businesses and families. She is pleased to serve clients in both English and French.

Kim graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Management and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. She was a student-athlete who competed in Division One soccer and basketball.

Outside of work, Kim enjoys travelling and spending quality time with her family.

In her role, Vanessa provides exceptional client services and administrative support to the advisory team.

Vanessa is a seasoned professional in finance supporting top-tier hospitality businesses, including the Hazelton Hotel, where she focused on delivering 5-star client experiences. Her diverse background in finance, hospitality, and the arts gives her an edge in detail-oriented and creative problem-solving. Her refined customer service skills have provided her with the analytical tools required to seamlessly integrate operations with client services.

Vanessa is a graduate of the Material Art and Design Metalsmithing & Jewellery diploma program. She perseveres in expanding her knowledge of the financial industry through continued courses.

In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, fitness, felting, metalsmithing and spending time with her family.

Stephanie ensures day-to-day operations run smoothly by anticipating the needs of the CEO and staff, as well as providing high-quality administrative support such as managing travel arrangements, planning events and office management.

Stephanie is a tenured executive assistant with over a decade of experience in the field. She has worked with top-level executives in various industries, including retail and healthcare. Her expertise lies in managing complex schedules, organizing meetings, and handling confidential information. She is known for her exceptional communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure.

Stephanie holds a diploma in Business Management from Humber College. She enjoys supporting philanthropic endeavours and gives back to the community through various volunteer initiatives.

Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and cooking.