Our Team
Paragon Wealth Managers is built upon a team of devoted professional staff. Each member subscribes to the Paragon ideals of excellence, dedication and integrity.
KEVIN CADEN
MANAGING
DIRECTOR
CA(SA)/ICAI
Kevin has worked in the asset management industry and wealth advisory sector for the past 15 years. He holds a B Com in Accounting & Finance and completed his articles with Deloitte Ireland in 2011.
Post articles he held various roles in the asset management and banking industry in Ireland. Before emigrating to South Africa in 2013 he worked as a Financial Regulator of Irish Collective Investment Schemes with the Central Bank of Ireland. Kevin is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Accountants and joined the SAICA body in 2013 and worked at Stonehage Fleming for two years before joining Iza Wealth. In 2018 Kevin became Partner and Director in Iza Wealth and was instrumental in developing Iza Capital Partners the asset management and investment arm of the business.
SEAN KELLY
Director
Bcom Finance
Sean has worked in the finance industry for the past 8 years. After completing his Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Investment Management (UJ). Sean joined Iza Wealth in 2018.
He then began working directly with the Managing Director as a paraplanner and investment analyst. In 2019, Sean moved to Cape Town and worked as a full-time investment analyst at Star Investment Partners assisting with their asset management and research. In 2020, Sean was called back to JHB to assist with Iza Wealth’s offshore investment solutions as well as running their offshore model portfolios. Sean became Partner and Key Individual of Iza Wealth in 2021.
In 2021, Sean founded Paragon Investment Partners which operates as a Discretionary Investment Management Company (FSP No. 52354). In 2023, Sean Kelly, Kevin Caden and Andrea Davis founded Paragon Wealth Managers. Sean is currently a Director, Key Individual and Wealth Manager. Sean is currently studying a global MBA through the renowned Oxford Brookes University (UK).
ANDREA DAVIS
DIRECTOR
Bcom
Financial
Management
Andréa has worked in the finance industry for the past 9 years. Whilst completing her Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management, she worked in the South African Insurance and Investment industry as a paraplanner.
This allowed her to gain extensive practical experience and knowledge. In 2020 she completed her degree and started working with Sean Kelly as a senior paraplanner in the offshore investment industry. In 2023, Andréa joined Kevin Caden and Sean Kelly at Paragon Wealth Managers as a director and paraplanner.
Andréa’s attention to detail ensures standards of service excellence; her professional experience, combined with her personal approach, makes her uniquely qualified to assist clients and manage the operations of the company.
IAN BRADLEY
Head of Forex
Ian is a highly experienced forex professional who has been working in the financial domain since 1991. He worked as a Branch Manager for Allied Bank and was entrusted with the responsibility of initiating the foreign exchange department, a task that coincided with the formation of ABSA.
Subsequently, Ian led the Forex team at Allied Bank Randburg and later, at ABSA Auckland Park until 2001. Ian then embarked on a new chapter by joining ABSA offshore, which later became Triaplha. In this role, Ian was responsible for pricing nine funds and providing valuable assistance in foreign transfers. Ian was then transferred to Stonehage, South Africa, where he established the Forex department. In 2016, he joined forces with two colleagues to launch The FX Desk, showcasing their collective expertise in Foreign Exchange.
Throughout his career, he has garnered extensive knowledge and honed his skills in the financial industry, particularly in foreign exchange. He facilitates matters relating to the transfer of funds abroad, including the obtaining of SARS tax clearances, the opening of bank accounts, and the fulfillment of all SARB-related requirements, ensuring a seamless, cost-effective, and efficient end-to-end solution.
PETER HARRIS
Wealth
Manager
CA (SA)
Peter is a qualified chartered accountant, completing his articles with Deloitte in 1992. After 30 years of corporate and consultancy experience, Peter joined Paragon Wealth Managers as their representative in the Garden Route and the greater Western Cape.
Peter has worked in a wide range of industries in South and sub-Sahara Africa. After working at Deloitte for over eight years in Cape Town, Kimberley, and Johannesburg, he joined a subsidiary of the Astral Foods group and later moved to AFGRI, fulfilling a variety of roles, culminating in group financial managers. He has grown prawns in Mozambique and authored various integrated and sustainability reports for listed entities. Working as an independent accountant, he has several years of financial services and private equity experience.
Peter recently embarked on a new career as a wealth manager, helping clients protect and grow their wealth through predominantly offshore structures and investments.
Leandri Schwarzendahl
FOREX
Consultant
Leandri is an experienced forex consultant with a comprehensive background in the financial industry. With four years of valuable experience at Liberty Life, along with an additional two years of property industry exposure, she brings a unique perspective to her role as a forex consultant.
Leandri is an experienced forex consultant with a comprehensive background in the financial industry. With four years of valuable experience at Liberty Life, along with an additional two years of property industry exposure, she brings a unique perspective to her role as a forex consultant.
NICKY OATES
HEAD OF
OPERATIONS
& COMPLIANCE
CAIA
Nicky has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years. After a short stint as a first-year Economics Lecturer, she joined a Fund of Hedge Funds business as an Investment Research Analyst.
Where she was an active member of the investment committee before moving to Masthead where she served as Head of Compliance. In 2020 Nicky joined Prime Asset Managers as Head of Operations, managing compliance and business operations. Nicky has a BCom (Hons) in Economics and Risk Management, has qualified as a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and has completed a Certificate in Compliance Management. She is an approved FAIS Compliance Officer for Category I, II and IIA and has completed her RE1 and RE3 exams.
STEPHEN PRATT
Head of risk
Management
Stephen has been in the financial services industry for more than 25 years and has great experience. Stephen pursued a career in finance while studying a BCom at UNISA.
Stephen then spent 9 years working in a variety of roles at large investment banks in the UK, Europe and the USA. His passion for investing brought him back to South Africa to found his own hedge fund business in 2002. Stephen is the managing director and hedge fund manager of Prime Asset Managers and deals with trading, risk management, administration, client communication, capital raising, fund launches, and compliance
ALEXANDRA LOMBAARD
business
operations
manager
BCom (Hons)
Alex has been in the financial services industry for the past 2 years. She joined Prime Asset Managers in 2021, and has fulfilled the role as an Operations Business Manager, working in accordance with FAIS, FICA, and POPI.
She has a BCom (Hons) in Financial Management and is an approved FAIS Compliance Office, under supervision, for Category I, II and IIA.
