Our People
Our Story
In the early 2000s, our founders built bespoke software for leading South African asset managers.
They saw the value their projects delivered: saving users time, making it easier for them to share and access data, and saving companies money. From these insights, they decided to build a product that could solve the industry-specific problems for all investment managers. Quintessence is the culmination of two decades of doing just that, and it’s now used by asset managers in multiple countries.
Meet the team
With over 25+ years in the investment management industry, Nico leverages his deep understanding of the data underpinning the front and middle office operations to navigate the intricacies of asset management and assist Quintessence in addressing the pervasive challenges encountered within the investment industry.
Nico Christodoulides
Director
Des is responsible for defining the product vision. With a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in physics and computer science. Des combines his academic foundation with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. His unwavering commitment, determination, and industry expertise, enable him to effectively oversee the entire product development process, while keenly comprehending our clients’ requirements.
Desmond Nyenes
Director
With a Bachelor of Commerce (B.com) degree in Information Systems, Allie is responsible for overseeing the seamless operations of our organization while spearheading the implementation of optimal systems to meet our clients' investment process requirements. Her astute leadership, technical acumen, and commitment to excellence, enables us to exceed the expectations of our clients while driving sustainable growth and success.
Allie Albers
Head of Client Operations and Implementation
John leads the Quintessence Client Solutions division, spearheading the effective utilisation of Quintessence's capabilities to drive actionable outcomes for our clients. With his knowledge of fund management and extensive experience in overseeing operations and IT departments, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. He holds a Business Science degree and is a qualified CFA.
John Nel
Head of Client Solutions
Lawrence and his team work closely to produce a highly capable product for our clients and are consistently striving for refinement and enhancement. Lawrence has over 25 years experience in software development which he has gained both locally, in South Africa, and internationally in the UK. His experience and wealth of knowledge afford him the ability to guide and teach the development team at Quintessence.
Lawrence McKellar
Head of Software Engineering
Ludwich, our Head of Digital Marketing, combines a post-grad diploma in Business Administration with a keen ability to creatively solve complex business problems. With his understanding of both business and technology, he spearheads our digital marketing efforts, driving strategic success.
Ludwich Maartens
Head of Digital Marketing
Alice has been around Quintessence since its inception but officially joined in 2012, bringing her multifaceted expertise to the company. In her current role, she assumes diverse responsibilities including HR Management, Legal, and Accounts, while also providing support to the executive team. Alice has over 30 years of experience and her administrative talent makes her an invaluable asset to the organisation.
Alice Santos
Business Support Lead
Heinrich is our QA lead and holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Hons) degree in Applied Mathematics. He is the link between the data engineering and development team. He's the go-to man for testing new releases, managing bugs and assisting the data engineers with the maintenance of client's data in the back end. Heinrich loves solving problems, be they related to business, engineering, economics or science.
Heinrich Linnert
Quality Assurance Lead
Melanie serves as the primary liaison for all front-line support and escalation. Mel is driven by her commitment to understanding both our clients’ needs as well as the Quintessence product. Her years of IT project management experience and qualification enable her to run a well-oiled and efficient client support operation where she has fostered strong relationships with both clients and colleagues.
Melanie van Wyk
Client Support Lead
Micaela exemplifies innovation, diligence, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional solutions to our clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Statistics. She handles client expectations, produces excellent work and leads her own team. Micaela's exceptional work ethic and leadership skills enable her to consistently produce results and effectively guide her team towards success.
Micaela de Castro
Technical Team Lead
Michelle thrives on leveraging her interpersonal skills to keep teams organised and ensure the seamless delivery of solutions according to plan. With a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) degree and an Honours in Industrial Psychology, she brings a blend of business acumen and understanding of human behaviour to her role, enabling her to navigate complex project dynamics and drive successful outcomes.
Michelle Penderis
Project Manager
Wade is an accomplished Business Analyst and holds an honours in finance. His strong analytical skills and ability to distil complex concepts into actionable insights help optimise business processes. Wade's attention to detail and effective communication makes him a trusted advisor and successful business analyst for our Data Engineers.
Wade Noland
Business Analyst
Brandon holds an MSc in theoretical physics. With a borderline obsession for efficiency, he finds joy in uncovering optimal solutions and streamlining processes at the intersection between logic, creativity, and technology. By embracing the interconnectedness of knowledge in various fields, Brandon seeks to bring new insights and innovation to Quintessence.
Brandon Bernardo
Data Engineer
Emile has completed a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) in Computing, equipping him with a strong foundation in the field. He enjoys solving challenging problems in an efficient and timely manner. His analytical mindset, combined with his technical expertise, allows him to approach problems with a strategic perspective, carefully considering all variables to achieve optimal results.
Emile van der Merwe
Data Engineer
Hiren holds a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Chemical Engineering which brings a specialized skill set to the table. His engineering background enables him to excel in problem-solving and constructing efficient data pipelines.
Hiren Mavalall
Data Engineer
Joel has completed a degree in Mathematical Science with a focus on financial risk management and is in the ongoing pursuit of his CFA III certification. Joel brings a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and finance to his role. Joel's background allows him to approach projects with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying data and its financial implications enabling him to deliver robust and insightful solutions to our clients.
Joel Saunders
Data Engineer
Jordan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree in Actuarial Science, with Honours in Mathematical Statistics, and possesses a strong quantitative aptitude ensuring that solutions are seamlessly implemented and well supported. Jordan’s strong grasp of technical Quintessence concepts enables him to effectively communicate and train other Data engineers, empowering them to excel in their roles.
Jordan Shrank
Data Engineer
Luke is a client support data engineer. He enjoys building strong relationships and supporting various clients to implement software solutions to fit their specific business needs. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering and enjoys solving problems to get the most effective solutions.
Luke Parlabean
Data Engineer
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Actuarial Science, his comprehensive educational background equips him with a deep understanding of mathematical principles and statistical analysis, which are essential in his role. Matt's strong analytical mindset, coupled with his ability to collaborate effectively with his teammates, empowers him to tackle intricate data challenges with precision.
Matthew Blackbeard
Data Engineer
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Maths and Applied Maths. Her forte lies in creating visually appealing solutions that are both well-engineered and architecturally sound. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of Quintessence and design principles, Sarah consistently delivers beautiful and highly functional outcomes.
Sarah Saunders
Data Engineer
Francois holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in Mechanical Engineering and has managed a variety of large-scale projects. With expertise in data manipulation, he ensures the seamless flow of information for analysis and visualization.
Francois Botha
Solution Support Specialist
Lebo hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Mathematical Sciences. With his love for data coupled with a meticulous mindset, he enjoys creating well thought-out solutions to solve complex problems. He values learning, growth and collaboration.
Lebogang Malekutu
Data Engineer
Lindelwa holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Economics and Econometrics. She believes that continuous learning and self-improvement are critical success factors, to achieve this she makes sure to participate in many courses and jumps at any opportunity to learn from her peers. She is also passionate about helping other people and lives out the value of kindness in every aspect of her life.
Lindelwa Khumalo
Solution Support Specialist
James is a part of our software development team and believes being excited about what you're creating, beyond just the process of making it, means you're not just passionate about creating it but about making sure that it is the best product for our clients in every way possible.
James Duffey
Software Developer
Johnson attained his dual degree in Business Studies and Computer Science. He is instrumental in keeping the app working efficiently through continuous improvement and optimisation. Johnson loves creating software solutions and exploring emerging technologies.
Johnson Siziba
Software Developer
Mdu has attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology, reflecting his strong academic foundation in the field. His interest in technology is evident in his exploration of diverse frameworks, coupled with his adeptness in experimenting with 3D animations.
Mduduzi Cwele
Software Developer
Nomfundo holds a BCom degree in Information Systems, demonstrating her expertise in the field. Through her studies, she represented UJ in prestigious competitions, such as the GovTech SITA hackathon in 2019 and the DPSA hackathon in 2018. Nomfundo's enthusiasm for acquiring new knowledge and applying cutting-edge technology further enhances her capabilities in delivering exceptional results.
Nomfundo Phororo
Software Developer
Drawing on over 10 years of software engineering experience, Valentin takes an active role in the development of the product and the integration of new features, ensuring that Quintessence remains competitive on the market and maintains its quality standards.
Valentin Turcu
Software Developer
Simon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. Like many at Quintessence, he loves to solve complex problems and apply his analytical skills to come up with efficient solutions to solve business problems. He is the link between data engineers and the Development team, where he uses his background to test and maintain quality solutions at Quintessence.
Simon Sithole
Quality Assurance Engineer
Leveraging her extensive expertise in eLearning and design, Lauren possesses a deep-seated commitment to developing simple solutions for complex challenges. Lauren's innate ability to deconstruct information and craft seamlessly intuitive experiences propels her intrigue to delve into the intricacies of design psychology and its profound impact on our day-to-day existence.
Lauren Ashman
Product Designer
Anne-Marie keeps the cogs of Quintessence turning in all aspects of the business. She has over 20 years' experience in office administration which means anything she handles is done so with care and efficiency. She's our go-to for anything admin as well as ensuring we are all equipped with the right hardware and office set-up.
Anne-Marié Wolfaardt
Office Manager
Malick plays a pivotal role at Quintessence, overseeing all hardware and software aspects with a specific focus on seamless software implementations for our clients. He ensures that the gears of our operations continue to run smoothly. Malick's expertise makes him an indispensable asset, enabling us to deliver a well-maintained product while swiftly resolving any technical glitches or challenges encountered.
Abdul-Malick Abrahams
ICT Support
