Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Lyes Birem is vice president at Coller Capital, responsible for distribution to intermediaries across Canada, including family offices, fund of funds programs, and discretionary private wealth portfolio managers.
As a skilled collaborator, he develops investment tailored solutions by leveraging advanced research and analytics tools.
More specifically, Birem was always destined to stand out for his ability to develop key relationships, thanks to growing up in a successful entrepreneurial family involved in various industries, including textiles, real estate, and hospitality in France, Spain, and North Africa.
He says, “Building relationships was always a priority, and attending business dinners with my father left a lasting impression, reinforcing my love for face-to-face interaction.”
This ability to create a network and make connections has been paramount to his success.
Birem was a pioneer in integrating a custom portfolio tool for ETFs into the sales process, which led to the Horizons ETFs (now Global X) largest single retail trade of $100 million. This occurred during a pivotal time when the advisory industry was undergoing a major transformation (CRM2), increasing fee transparency, and driving the rise of discretionary-based practices.
Since then, Birem significantly contributed to Alignvest Student Housing, helping grow its value from $200 million to the exit at $1.7 billion, Canada’s largest private real estate transaction and one of the biggest M&A deals of 2024.
“I firmly believe that private markets within model portfolios, much like ETFs a decade ago, will be the next key differentiator for large, sophisticated wealth managers,” he comments.
Clients can take advantage of Birem’s decade-long experience in asset allocation gained by building model portfolios for some of Canada’s most influential wealth managers.
“They receive the latest resources they need, not just for a specific asset class, but for their overall investment strategy,” he says. “This includes value-added insights into private market trends and sharing third-party research on specific strategies or broader global macro trends, helping them make the most informed portfolio decisions.”
In addition to his relationships, Birem is equipped with a potent combination of transparency and deep product knowledge. This is a consequence of a strong analytical finance background, paired with a solid work ethic.
He stands by his advice and diligently delivers on what has been promised.
“If there is one thing clients remember, it’s the importance of always keeping your word.”
Relishing his work is what fuels Birem’s drive and passion, and he’s a strong advocate of sharing that mindset, in a bid to give younger industry entrants a helping hand.
“My satisfaction comes from helping clients succeed by providing strong investment solutions that meet their evolving needs. It’s a true partnership,” he says. “I’m committed to helping the next generation break into this highly competitive industry. I give back by sharing advice on building a strong, reliable network with key decision-makers. I often share my own experience of breaking into the industry in Toronto, where persistence and reaching out to strangers leads to lasting mentorships and friendships.”
2000 McGill College Ave., Montreal, QC H3A 3L3
+1 212 822 4333
lyes.birem@collercapital.com
linkedin.com/company/coller-capital
pwss.collercapital.com/solutions/
Lyes Birem, CFA
Vice President, Private Wealth
Coller Capital
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Milestones
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
2015–2017
2017–2019
2020–2021
2021–2024
2025
Logiq (now Purpose)
2015–
2017
GlobalX Canada
2017–
2019
Evolve ETFs
2020–
2021
Alignvest
2021–
2024
Coller Capital
2025
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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