We’re in the business of growth

Steve is passionate about creating long-term relationships with our clients and helping them to overcome barriers to growth.

An entrepreneur at heart, Steve believes in the synergy of great financing and strong partnerships – which led him to join our team in 2019. He understands the ups and downs on the road to growth and truly enjoys collaborating with high-performing businesses to help them achieve their objectives. As Head of First West Capital, Steve leads all facets of the business from origination, deal execution, portfolio management, risk management and is ultimately accountable for the driving the overall growth and profitability of the business.

From start-ups to multinational corporations, Steve has 15+ years of experience in growth and M&A financing and has held roles at BDC Growth and Transition Financing and BMO Asset Based Lending, as well as VanCity Capital and CIBC Leveraged Finance.

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA Charterholder) and received an honours degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Steve is also a board member of the Vancouver Chapter of the Risk Management Association, and a member of the Accounting Standards Board, Private Enterprise Advisory Committee.

Its Darryl’s mission to help businesses fulfill their strategic vision. Through innovative junior capital solutions, and a collaborative approach, he paves the way for our clients to grow.

Darryl has a genuine interest in every business’ story; discovering financial solutions that solve their unique challenges makes him tick. His entrepreneur-focused perspective led him to join the First West Capital team in 2018. As a strategic member of the Eastern Canadian team, Darryl is responsible for origination, execution and portfolio management.

Darryl has over 15 years in commercial and mid-market financing with experience across diverse industries. He has led the development of various specialty business segments at Laurentian Bank, CIT and GE Capital, and is an alumnus of the GE Commercial Leadership Program.

He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Real Estate Investments and Asset Management Certification from Cornell University. Darryl is a proud supporter of the United Way Campaign and Second Harvest Toronto, and has been a volunteer basketball coach at various clinics and programs across the Greater Toronto Area.

Debby is a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients and provides deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Debby plays a crucial role in crafting well-structured junior capital solutions. Highly analytical and relationship-focused, she has a talent for uncovering clients’ needs and establishing strong partnerships. She also provides insights and solutions for improving internal processes and procedures, making us more efficient at serving our clients.

Debby has been in financial services for 10 years, including auditing financial institutions and gaining valuable deal experience at a large investment bank in Johannesburg, the financial hub of South Africa. She graduated with a B.Bus.Sci Finance (Honours) and Accounting from the University of Cape Town and is also a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CPA and South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Jason is passionate about helping dynamic, mid-market businesses grow, acquire and transition through innovative junior capital financing. Jason is responsible for deal origination, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

When identifying and crafting innovative junior capital solutions, he looks to foster strong relationships by taking a collaborative and client-focused approach. Jason also manages and oversees First West Capital’s existing investments, ensuring clients feel supported and empowered in executing their operational and financial plans.

Jason has over 10 years in financial services and management consulting. He started his career in public accounting, providing assurance services for both the public and private markets across Canada. He then went on to become a management consultant providing financial solutions for high-growth businesses across Canada and the United States.

Jason graduated from Brock University with a Bachelors in Accounting (BAcc), and is also a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA).

Zahid is a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients and provides deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Zahid is involved in the entire due diligence and underwriting process and provides the team support in creating innovative junior capital solutions. His expertise in financial analytics ensures clients can grow, acquire and transition effectively.

Zahid has 5+ years’ experience in financial services, public accounting (KPMG) and venture debt with a focus on debt funding solutions for early stage technology companies.

Zahid graduated with a B.Comm (Accounting) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (South Africa). Zahid is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and a CFA Charterholder.

Mary is a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients and provides deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Mary’s expertise in due diligence and underwriting provides our team support with crafting innovative junior capital solutions. With a background as a business valuations analyst, she discovered her passion for number crunching and financial analysis, leading her to join our team in 2019.

Mary has over 5 years experience in finance with a focus on business planning and client relations. She is committed to helping our clients grow, acquire and transition effectively.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Diploma of Finance with Distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She is currently working towards her CBV designation. Mary is also a mentor to students in the career mentorship program of the BCIT Student Association.

As a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients, Brett conducts deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

With his experience in corporate finance and passion for delivering strong financial advice, Brett paves the way for our clients to realize their strategic goals and creates junior capital solutions to help them grow.

Brett has over nine years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and business advisory, with a focus on mid-market companies. Prior to moving to Canada, he worked in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Brett graduated with an MBA at EDHEC Business School in France and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Hons.) from Otago University in New Zealand. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and is in the final stage of becoming a CFA charterholder.

As Compliance Officer, Jane keeps our team in order. She is responsible for auditing, managing account files, and leading the essential administration on our team. Her client-focused approach ensures all financial transactions run like clock-work and that all of our i’s are dotted and t’s crossed.

Nothing gets by Jane. We depend on her attention to detail and technical skills to manage the behind-the-scenes funding administration and so much more! Jane is known for going the extra mile to keep things running smoothly, and is the go-to for transactions, CRM support and client relations.

Having worked in the credit union industry for over 35 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, including many years leading a retail lending administration team.