Leadership
Meryl Kaye De Leon is the Founder & Managing Partner of PERA. Meryl started PERA to fill the gap between the flow of capital and resources to entrepreneurs, business owners, and founders.
At PERA, she has raised millions in capital and worked with clients ranging from SMEs to public companies listed on NYSE to CSE.
As a multidisciplinary executive, Meryl has held various roles in marketing, business operations, and as a Director of Finance.
Over her career, Meryl has led teams of all sizes and have worked for public companies listed on LSE (FTSE100) and TSX.
Meryl is passionate about supporting the community, and devotes time to various incubators and as a Board Treasurer to a local not-for-profit.
Meryl earned her MBA with a major in Accounting from the Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University in New York.
Ashana is a dynamic former commercial banker and driven entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience. Possessing a unique combination of business acumen and banking expertise, Ashana is able to successfully navigate complex financial situations and provide innovative debt financing solutions to clients.
Ashana can add value to your business by offering an array of personalized advice to meet needs such as working capital requirements, equipment financing and leasing, property equity take-out and business acquisition.
Previously she worked as a Relationship Manager, Commercial Financial Services with a chartered bank managing a portfolio of 250 Businesses. Ashana was awarded the prestigious Performance Conference Award Winner 2021 (Top 1% of Employees Country-Wide)
In addition to her banking expertise Ashana, sits on the Board of her family business – a conglomerate of alcohol distilleries in the North of India. Additionally she ran a luxury fashion products company in Italy and India which was privately acquired in 2017.
Ashana has earned her MSc in International Business from Aston University, Birmingham UK as well as BSc in Accounting and Management from Cardiff University, Wales UK.
An entrepreneur and startup business consultant, Rob has over 20 years of experience in the online, financial services, consumer electronics, and apparel industries. Rob has innovated at companies such as RBC, TD, Best Buy and Kit and Ace.
Rob currently owns a company called North Coast Ventures, where he partners with passionate Founders and their companies to help them accelerate their growth and business development. He invests in people and the realization of their dreams so that in turn those people can do the same for others.
In addition to PERA, Rob works with a Vancouver-based CPA and SR&ED advisory firm focused on helping small to medium sized businesses with their finance and accounting needs. Throughout his career, Rob's consulting work has contributed to funding several projects, scaling successful businesses, and increasing revenue and profitability.
An innovator and risk taking ideator, Rob has founded several businesses, and his current technology company, Green Spirit Technologies, develops security and charging solutions for the bike and ebike market.
Rob is an MBA graduate from UBC’s Sauder School of Business, specializing in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and holds a HBA degree from the University of Toronto in Economics and Political Science.
Andrew Hoercher is a Principal in the Park Avenue, New York Office of Cerity Partners, one of the largest and fastest growing independent wealth management firms in the United States.
At Cerity Partners, Andrew and his team manage comprehensive wealth planning to high net worth individuals and their families. Andrew has worked closely with partners at major law firms, corporate executives, and business owners. He is responsible for advising clients, considering their goals and unique wealth planning needs, on investments, trust and estate planning, financial decision-making, retirement planning, as well as gift and tax issues.
Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Andrew served as a Director at a large national wealth management firm formerly known as KLS Advisors. In this role, he advised law firm partners, executives, and business owners on a wide range of wealth and financial planning needs. He also served as the Secretary of the KLS Investment Committee where he conducted a variety of investment, market, and economic research.
He looks forward to assisting with the strategic growth and direction of PERA.
