Board of Directors
Farrel Meltzer
Director
Farrel founded the Wingate Group in 2003 after a highly successful career as an investment banker, including holding positions as head of ANZ Private Bank and the Group Managing Director of Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd.
Recognised as one of Australia’s outstanding specialised financial service innovators and business builders, Farrel’s experience spans funds management, private equity, private clients, debt, structured investments, corporate advice, business strategy, capital markets, securitisation and funding for large privately owned businesses.
Franco Dogliotti
Director
Franco has been involved in corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions and capital market transactions for 18 years, having initiated, advised on and closed transactions valued at more than A$3 billion. Franco’s experience includes advising large privately owned businesses as well as national and multi-national public corporations on both local and cross-border transactions.
Prior to joining the Wingate Group, Franco was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 18 years and a leading member of the firm’s Melbourne Corporate Finance team. Throughout his career, Franco’s focus has been on the creation and unlocking of value for privately held businesses as well as mid-sized public companies.
Chad Padowitz
Director
Chad is a specialist in both the equities and fixed income markets and has developed a reputation and following as an astute value investor. Chad has worked as an equities and derivatives analyst at HSBC Bank in London, followed by a role as an equities research analyst at First National Bank in South Africa. In 1998 Chad co-founded Aurica Financial Services, an asset management business which became a top 300 unlisted company in South Africa. In 2002 Chad joined AXA Ltd in Australia as an Equities and Fixed Interest Investment Specialist.
Chad joined the Wingate Group in July 2006 and is one of the founders of Wingate Asset Management.
Dr Andrew Walker
Non-Executive Director
Andrew is the founder and Chairman of both Matrix Healthcare Pty Ltd and Aspen Medical Pty Ltd; Director of Generic Health Pty Ltd and Flexicar Pty Ltd; and founding Director of ASX listed Resonance Healthcare Ltd and Ritract Ltd.
Andrew was named the 2006 Ernst & Young National “Entrepreneur of the Year” (Service Category).
Andrew started Matrix 15 years ago and has grown the company from a home based GP deputising service into a vertically integrated healthcare provider with 20 business units in four states.
Andrew established Aspen Medical four years ago to provide outsourced health solutions for Government and other large organisations. In 2007, Business Review Weekly named Aspen as the fastest growing company in Australia.
Prior to commencing his business career, Andrew was an officer in the Australian Army and a Platoon Commander in Australia’s elite parachute regiment.
David Laidlaw
Non-Executive Director
David commenced his career at clothing manufacturer Yakka Pty Ltd, as a management cadet to the marketing director. In 1994, David established his own business, Icon Clothing Pty Ltd, which sold and marketed jeanswear to the Australian, New Zealand and international markets.
After successfully growing its brand in the market, Icon Clothing was sold along with Yakka to Pacific Brands Ltd in March 2007.
Geoffrey Tauber
Non-Executive Director
Geoff is the Executive Chairman of the Precision Group which is involved in the purchase, finance and development of commercial property. The Precision Group has interests in the retail, office and hospitality sectors of the property market and undertakes mezzanine finance transactions throughout Australia.
Geoff continues in his role as Investment Manager for his family’s group of companies following the 1986 sale of the family’s business (now known as Playcorp) to Century Plaza Pty Ltd, a member of the Solomon Lew group of companies.
Tony Fehon
Non-Executive Director
Tony spent the first nine years of his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he trained as a chartered accountant, specialising in banking, finance and real estate. Following PwC, Tony joined Macquarie Bank where he held a number of senior roles, both in Australia and abroad, over 13 years. Tony founded Macquarie Branded Investments and Macquarie Golf and Leisure, managed Macquarie’s property and leisure related interests including Medallist Developments (an international joint venture with Greg Norman), Macquarie Leisure Trust Group (a real estate finance business) and Macquarie’s investment into the childcare industry.
Tony has extensive experience on both public and private company boards. He is also involved in various charitable organisations, his roles include Chairman of the Steve Waugh Foundation’s Forever Green Dinner Committee, Chairman of the Dominican Finance Committee and Director and Treasurer of Aunties and Uncles, a youth mentoring program.
