SWO Angels brought Bernie Batt on as its Analyst earlier this year, to work with Dennis in screening opportunities as well as support members in due diligence.
A financial executive, an entrepreneur, and an investor, Bernie is a methodical and logical thinker.
A former senior analyst for the Vancouver Financial Advisory practice of Deloitte & Touche, Bernie’s, expertise lies in due diligence, business restructuring, and analysis.
An accountant by training, he gained valuable experience in entrepreneurship by co-founding a business in 2011. Key Learning Group is a Vancouver-based consulting operation that prepares students for application to competitive private schools and universities, with operations in Canada and China. The Key Learning Group has been a successful recipient of Angel funding.
“Over the last 6 years, there have been many changes in the education marketplace, but with the customer centric approach that we apply to admissions, we are one of the only agencies that gives customers what they want with a backbone of real expertise in admissions,” says Batt.
Before arriving in London, Bernie served as the Finance Director of Leo Burnett (Chicago), one of the largest and most decorated advertising agencies in the world – famous for creating the Marlborough Man, Snap Crackle & Pop, Toucan Sam, and the Green Giant. He was charged with reorganizing the finance department, and hiring and training a production accounting team of 49 people, as well as integrating newly acquired agencies.
Over his career, he has differentiated himself with IT experience including implementation of systems and extracting better information. Bernie has been able to leverage this and his accounting skill set in senior financial roles at public companies including SouthGobi Resources (TSX:SGQ and HKEX:1878) and Goldcorp (TSX:G, NYSE:GG).
Not surprisingly, Bernie has always pursued side projects. Key Learning Group, property development, and commercial property acquisition and management were amongst the most time-consuming, yet personally rewarding investments he has made. Prior to becoming its Analyst, Bernie joined the Southwest Ontario Angel Group as a full member.
Bernie said, “While I have had the opportunity to use my skill set in a variety of side projects, investing with the Southwest Ontario Angel Group has certainly been one of the most interesting. I like angel investing because it gives me the chance to look ahead and predict what the marketplace is going to look like in 5 to 10 years.”
Bernie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at UBC, and holds the CPA, CMA designation.