Team

Vlaad is the Founder and Principal of Backer North. With over two decades of experience as an operator, advisor, and investor, Vlaad has a unique and comprehensive perspective on what it takes to build and scale successful businesses.

Prior to founding Backer North, Vlaad was a Senior Leader at IBM Analytics, where his role was to be the bridge between divisional strategy and financial reality. He developed and executed the operational plan for a global team, managed a segment of the P&L, and was a key contributor to a 10%+ margin increase for the division.

As an investor and strategic advisor, Vlaad has guided organizations on complex M&A and regulatory challenges while executing a multi-year buy-side search, assessing nearly 300 investment opportunities. This process has given him a view from every seat at the table and a deep understanding of what makes a deal successful for all stakeholders.

He holds a Master of Finance (MFin) from Wilfrid Laurier University and has passed the Level I examination of the CFA Program.

George provides Backer North and its portfolio companies with senior counsel on private equity transactions, capital structure, and sophisticated financial risk management.

His perspective is informed by a 25-year career as a senior leader and consultant across several of Canada's major financial institutions. George's expertise in mid-market private equity, valuation, and structured credit is instrumental in the firm's rigorous due diligence process and in developing optimal capital solutions for acquisition and growth.

He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Veljko provides Backer North with expert counsel on technology strategy, product architecture, and the development of enterprise-grade software platforms.

As the Founder and CEO of Devamo Inc., Veljko is a trusted technology partner to major Canadian government agencies and private enterprises, leading the creation of complex solutions on the Microsoft Azure cloud. His expertise as a certified enterprise architect is critical for conducting technology diligence on new investment opportunities and for guiding portfolio companies on building scalable, secure, and commercially viable products.

He holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) from the University of Belgrade.

Ivica provides Backer North with deep scientific counsel on fundamental technology, intellectual property, and emerging trends in the communications and data sectors.

As an Associate Professor at the Florida Institute of Technology and a director at its Wireless Center of Excellence (WiCE), Ivica operates at the forefront of academic research. This expertise, combined with his seven years as a research engineer with industry leaders like Agilent Technologies, is critical for conducting deep technical diligence on investment opportunities. His counsel is instrumental in assessing the viability and defensibility of a target company's core technology and product roadmap.

He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering.

Wenqi Yue is an experienced professional in the healthcare and energy sectors, with a focus on strategic development and international market expansion. She holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MEng, and a BS from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Ms. Sewell has a broad range of work experiences across small and medium size enterprises (including both for-profit and nonprofit organizations), including administration and organizational responsibilities, inventory management, client outreach and marketing and fundraising initiatives. She holds a General Arts and Sciences Degree from Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.

Valentina Josifovic Tomanic is an experienced financial and operations management professional in the telecommunications industry. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Belgrade.

Suvd Tserenkhuu has extensive experience in commercial banking, credit and impairment analysis, and customer relationship management. She is a CFA charterholder and has a master’s degree in economics from Hitotsubashi University in Japan.

Dennis Tung, an experienced mechanical engineer, has honed his expertise across the semiconductor, medical technology, and aerospace industries. His foray into the healthcare consulting arena and strategic planning role within the aerospace sector's corporate strategy adds a rich layer to his professional journey as he embarks on an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, complementing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA.

Jessie Zhao is an experienced economic consultant with a demonstrated history of supporting clients in healthcare, life sciences, health tech, construction, and textbook manufacturing. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Emory University in Atlanta with a BA in Economics and Linguistics.

Evan Wang brings a balanced skillset of financial analysis, consulting, selling, and marketing due to his wide variety of experiences. He holds a BBA in Operations & Information Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Guilherme Pamplona previously worked as an Associate. Before that, he was a model risk internal auditor at Itau Unibanco in Brazil and interned at Citigroup in Chicago as an Investment Banking Summer Associate in the Industrials group. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Mikael Waraich is an accomplished Strategy & Finance professional with a track record of driving corporate growth, ensuring profitability, and championing sustainability in the Logistics industry. He earned his B.Sc. (Hons) in Accounting & Finance from Lahore University of Management Sciences. Mikael is currently pursuing the CFA Charter.