Meet Our Team

Investment, Sales & Client Service

Our promise to deliver strong investment performance and excellent service rests on the shoulders of our people. We emphasize individual accountability. The key professionals listed below are responsible for making things happen in serving our clients.

Wayne Wachell MBA CFA

Wayne Wachell, MBA CFA

CEO & Chief Investment Officer
wwachell@genuscap.com

Wayne co-founded Genus in 1989 and is the architect of the firm's investment process. He directs our research and investment operations and the development of new products. Wayne grew up in northern Manitoba, attended the University of Alberta, and first entered the investment field as a portfolio analyst with Alberta Treasury in 1980. Wayne is a past president of the Vancouver Society of Financial Analysts and frequently appears as a market commentator on CBC Newsworld. Wayne serves on the Board of the Bill Reid Foundation and also mentors students in  the University of British Columbia Portfolio Management Foundation program.

Direct: 604 605 4601

Leslie G. Cliff BSc CFA OC

Leslie G. Cliff, BSc CFA OC

Director of Wealth Management
lcliff@genuscap.com

A founding partner of the firm, Leslie is responsible for directing Wealth Management marketing and sales initiatives and overseeing client relationships. Born and raised in Vancouver, she has a finance degree from Arizona State University. Leslie has worked in the portfolio management and client service area of the investment business since 1986. She is on the boards of The National Sports Centre, and is a past President of the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver, and a past Chair of the ICBC Investment Committee. Leslie is an Olympic medalist, an Honorary Chartered Accountant, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Direct: 604 605 4602

 

Margaret Lanthier BA CIF

Margaret Lanthier, BA CIF

Director, Institutional Balanced (Partner)
mlanthier@genuscap.com

Margaret has been in the investment business since 1980 and serves endowments, unions and high net worth individuals at Genus.  She spent her childhood in Montreal and graduated from Queen's University. Margaret has spoken at industry seminars on the challenges facing Endowment, Foundation and Not-For-Profit Portfolios. She is vice chair of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver, and vice chair of Music in the Morning. Margaret joined Genus in 1996.

Direct: 604 605 4606

Brent Chernenkoff CIM

Brent Chernenkoff, CIM

Vice-President, Institutional Sales (Partner)
bchernenkoff@genuscap.com

Brent is responsible for institutional marketing and sales activities at Genus, and for developing and maintaining consultant relationships. He has over 14 years investment experience, having previously worked in London, England, Montreal and Toronto before returning to Vancouver. Brent joined Genus in  2007. He grew up in Saskatchewan and Vancouver, and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations in 1993, before entering the investment industry. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Advancement in Excellence in Education.

Direct: 604 605 4605

Christina L. McLeod

Christina L. McLeod,

Portfolio Manager (Partner)
cmcleod@genuscap.com

Christy serves Aboriginal communities, as well as clients who prefer  Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI) options, and high net worth individuals. Born and raised in Vancouver, she attended UBC and has been in the investment industry since 1977. She serves on the board of the Social Investment Organization, which is dedicated to the advancement of socially responsible investment in Canada. Prior to joining Genus in 1999, Christy served with the University of British Columbia Faculty Pension Plan for five years. Before that, she worked with a national investment dealer as a retail broker and manager.

Direct: 604 605 4620

Mary Lou Miles FICB CFA

Mary Lou Miles, FICB CFA

Portfolio Manager (Partner)
mlmiles@genuscap.com

Mary Lou serves private clients and families. She has been in the investment and banking business since 1976. She grew up in Vancouver and graduated from the University of British Columbia. Mary Lou holds a BA in Economics, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the Fellowship of Canadian Bankers (FICB) designation. She joined Genus from Maxima Investment Management, and has held senior positions with the Bank of British Columbia and HSBC. Mary Lou, a past President of CFUW-Richmond (Canadian Federation of University Women), is Membership Chair of the Richmond Sunrise Rotary Club and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver. 

Direct: 604 605 4628

Naomi Thé  MBA

Naomi Thé , MBA

Wealth Management Associate
nthe@genuscap.com

Direct: 604 605 4624

Naomi serves private clients.  Born and raised in Vancouver, Naomi joined Genus in 2009 after obtaining her MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She also holds a BA in Psychology from McGill University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Concordia University. Her experience includes four years in business finance at an international public firm. Naomi is a member of 85 Broads and serves on the gala committee of the VGH UBC Hospital Foundation.
 

 

 

Marcus (Ming) Xu MA MSc CFA

Marcus (Ming) Xu, MA MSc CFA

Director of Equity Investments (Partner)
mxu@genuscap.com

Marcus works closely with Wayne Wachell on quantitative strategies for all Genus equity mandates and manages day-to-day investment operations. He is also responsible for overseeing our portfolio rebalance process. Marcus joined Genus in May 2002 after completing a Masters of Science degree in Finance from the University of British Columbia. Previously, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Beijing University and a Masters of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Windsor. Marcus attained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2006.

Direct: 604 605 4622

Robin Larsen

Robin Larsen,

Marketing Communication Manager (Partner)
rlarsen@genuscap.com

Robin is responsible for branding and communication activities at Genus, including media liaison and developing collateral marketing materials. A former newspaper editor and overseas correspondent, he also has held senior positions in corporate communications and public relations. Robin is originally from South Africa, where he attended Selborne College prior to entering the journalism program at Dispatch Media Limited. He later obtained a Diploma in Public Relations Management (Distinction) from the PR Institute of Southern Africa. He joined Genus in 1998. 

Direct: 604 605 4623

Stephen Au BComm CGA

Stephen Au, BComm CGA

Director of Finance (Partner)
sau@genuscap.com

As Director of Finance, Steve manages the Administration department and is responsible for client record keeping and maintaining the accounts for the Genus pooled fund components. He also serves as the Deputy Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer, and Internal Auditor. Steve joined Genus in 2001 and has been a partner since 2007. He was born in Vancouver, and graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2001 with a Bachelor of Commerce. Steve obtained his Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation in 2007.

Direct: 604 605 4626