We provide forward-looking solutions
to help our clients across the globe.
It’s all about
financial services
marketing.
When Ext. Marketing was launched, we identified a growing trend in financial services. Companies like yours were overloaded and under-resourced, and you needed help. Today, the trend is even stronger.
But you wouldn’t entrust your marketing initiatives to just anyone. You need a partner with proven marketing expertise. A firm that lives and breathes financial services. With people who consistently deliver on your marketing and investment communications objectives, while adding great value along the way.
It’s all we do.
It’s in our DNA.
That’s why our clients count on us. We’re dedicated to supporting financial services companies like yours. Our job is to bring fresh ideas to the table and take a new angle or an elevated approach. Your message needs to be heard through the noise, be engaging and make an impact on your target audiences.
We make your life easier. We enhance your marketing capabilities. We provide bench strength whenever you need us. That’s why you keep coming back. Strong relationships are built on trust and respect. You appreciate what we do for you as much as we appreciate the opportunity to support your marketing needs.
Leading financial services marketing
As Co-CEO and Co-founder of Ext. Marketing, Jillian is responsible for the company’s culture, vision, revenue and operations. At the highest level, Jillian leads and develops Ext.Marketing’s short and long-term strategy. Drilling down, she is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the company, including sales, staffing, budgets, employee engagement and corporate citizenship. Jillian was Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter and has held senior marketing and sales roles at an early-stage fintech company and Franklin Templeton Investments. Jillian has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario as well as a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics.
As Vice President, Communications and Strategy at Ext. Marketing, Sandy is a seasoned marketer and content strategist who has spent nearly 18 years working in the financial services industry. Equally at home on Wall Street, Bay Street or Burrard Street, she has run successful campaigns for respected wealth managers, including Philips, Hager and North; Franklin Templeton Investments; and RBC.
Sandy has helped brands ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 firms get noticed. She has worked extensively with conventional mutual funds, ETFs, venture capital, private equity, SRI and ESG solutions, and alternative investments. Having led high-octane creative teams, she knows a thing or two about how ideation turns into return on investment. When she’s not working, Sandy ensures her passport is well worn – and can often be spotted in airport waiting areas with two small children in tow.
As Managing Director of Ext. Marketing’s U.S. operations based out of our New York office, Ira leads our U.S. operations, including business development and marketing. He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, most recently as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and General Counsel (GC) of a Manhattan-based creative agency specializing in financial services. He has also served as COO, GC and Chief Compliance Officer of a hedge fund with $2 billion in regulatory assets under management. Trained as a lawyer, Ira’s marketing career spans almost 20 years. During this time, he acquired a deep knowledge of the traditional and alternative asset management industries, including hedge funds, private wealth, venture capital and private equity firms.
As Director, Investment Communications and Research at Ext. Marketing, Andrew plans, creates and manages content that is easy to find, understand and share. Andrew spends his days uniting excellent strategic thinking and engaging creative – and getting that output seen by the right people. In his previous role as Communications Manager, he launched Ext. Marketing’s content and social efforts via blogging, newsletter, LinkedIn and Twitter. He’s also deeply familiar with the ins and outs of investment commentaries.
His previous experience encompasses a range of in-house positions, from the darkest and most demanding corners of the back office to the creative suite at one of the world’s largest investment managers, Invesco Ltd. Andrew sharpens his mental focus every day while cycling his single speed through the rough and tumble streets of Toronto.
As Senior Writer at Ext. Marketing, George turns a wide range of financial concepts into sharp, compelling copy. He spends much of his day delivering content that underscores the financial innovations and benefits that Ext. Marketing clients bring to the industry. From new website launches to in-depth white papers, George covers a spectrum of writing projects and plays a key part in shaping marketing campaigns. George began his career as a journalist, writing for a number of trade publications and financial magazines, and later switched gears into the world of financial services marketing. His roles with major household names include CIBC and BMO Nesbitt Burns. If he finds a shred of time between his work at Ext. Marketing and running after his two young daughters, he’ll hit the mountain bike trails or challenge a neighbour to some hoops. He’s still working on a deep three.
As Project Manager and Analyst, Investment Communications at Ext. Marketing, John helps financial firms navigate the complexities of producing investment commentaries. John spends his days ensuring investment commentaries are completed on time and on budget for Ext. Marketing’s clients. He also acts as a knowledge hub at Ext. Marketing, tracking and updating the team on economic and industry news. He writes a monthly macroeconomic newsletter and monitors the global regulatory landscape to deepen Ext. Marketing’s industry insights. John’s previous work experience encompasses a variety of positions at multiple financial firms, including John Hancock, Manulife Financial, Scotiabank and CIBC. John stays active by playing hockey a couple of times a week, along with some early – very early – morning runs.
As Project Manager at Ext. Marketing, Vanessa helps lead the Project Management team and is responsible for managing a portfolio of clients. Vanessa spends her day coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver completed projects on time, on specification, and on budget. Vanessa also manages Ext. Marketing’s CRM & Project Management systems. She helps to develop new processes and implement new features within the delivery team and for the company.
Vanessa graduated from Tyndaly University with a BA in International Development with a minor in Business Administration. Her previous experience includes customer service and back-office work at Scotiabank, administrative, donor relations, and marketing roles at Tyndale University, and four years as Ext. Marketing’s Office Manager.
In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering, playing guitar/piano, singing, and travelling.
As Consulting Creative Director at Ext. Marketing, Martin brings creative and design leadership to all our clients. Martin is bilingual (French and English) and has over 20 years of experience building brands locally and globally. His work spans across a variety of creative platforms, including digital, video, social, print, TV and experiential, in industries from financial services to fashion, tourism, consumer packaged goods and automotive. Martin’s previous experience includes Creative Director at Y&R/GTB Canada, where he mentored a team of 12 creatives and led award-winning campaigns for the company’s Ford Canada business. He also recently did work for The Toronto-Dominion Bank. His work has been recognized by Applied Arts, NAA, Cassies, Summit Awards, Promo! Awards and more.
Melanie is Desktop Publisher and Graphic Designer at Ext. Marketing, where she adds flair and finesse to client presentations and brochures. As a production artist with 20 years of experience, Melanie spends her days designing appealing client collateral. Over the course of the pandemic, she went back to school to study UX Design, which she has recently received from George Brown College. She has a background in print and digital advertising and has experience with motion graphics. Prior to Ext. Marketing, Melanie worked with TD’s Agency 361 creating ads and banners displayed throughout their branches, on billboards and even in the York Concourse of Union Station.
In her down time when her new puppy isn’t keeping her busy, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, reading with her book club, and knitting and crocheting.
As Senior Writer at Ext. Marketing, Brenda specializes in transforming complex financial information into client-friendly content to engage readers, boost brands and drive leads.
Brenda brings a wealth of industry experience, having started her career as a personal finance columnist before moving over to become the founding editor of several award-winning digital content marketing platforms for large U.S. and Canadian financial services companies.
Her extensive background includes the development of targeted, plain-language content for social media platforms, e-books, blogs and newsletters.
In her free time, Brenda enjoys gardening, kayaking and spending time with her family and three sons.
As Vice President of Delivery & Client Success at Ext. Marketing, Mona helps our clients accomplish their marketing goals. Her responsibilities also include managing members of our Delivery team.
Mona spends her days meeting and strategizing with clients, helping them formulate and then achieve their marketing objectives and visions. She manages client marketing projects, working as a liaison between her clients and the Ext. Marketing teams. Her main goal is to ensure our clients are happy, and she will do whatever it takes to make their projects successful and lives a little easier. Mona started off her career at TD Auto Finance, before moving on to Invesco where she spent over eight years in various roles in both Sales and Marketing. Most recently, Mona worked at an advertising agency as an Account Executive before coming to Ext. Marketing.
Mona is a huge Toronto Raptors fan. She spends her free time trying new restaurants, reading fashion blogs, watching the NBA and researching where her next big trip will be.
Sanjeev is Director, Studio Production Services at Ext. Marketing. He brings with him over 10 years of experience. In his current role he manages budgets, timelines, workback schedules, and estimates for print, broadcast and digital deliverables. Sanjeev manages a team of designers, developers and project managers, works directly with vendors and clients, and implements workflows and processes.
Sanjeev’s previous experience includes launching integrated marketing and communications campaigns, loyalty and promotional programs, sales collateral and direct mail campaigns, media campaigns, interactive and social media programs, as well as web and e-commerce initiatives.
When not at work, Sanjeev loves to spend his time with family and friends.
As Senior Director, Communications at Ext. Marketing, Naomi provides strategic communications and marketing counsel to help clients achieve their objectives. She specializes in creative solutions and skillful project execution to help organizations connect with their customers and stakeholders.
Naomi is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with over 20 years of experience in financial services. Prior to joining Ext. Marketing, Naomi held increasingly senior marketing and corporate communications roles at Sun Life where she gained experience across a diverse range of disciplines including, product marketing, thought leadership and content strategy, external and internal communications, and sales enablement. Her most recent role was leading the marketing and communications function for Sun Life’s defined benefit pension team. Naomi has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism from Ryerson University.
As Senior Director, Digital Marketing at ext., Guy brings a deep understanding of the digital landscape to all our clients.
Guy has over 20 years of experience working in digital space with a very strong focus on the financial sector. He has worked across a variety of digital platforms, including web development, email marketing, video production, digital advertising, social media and analytics analysis. Guy’s previous experience includes Director, Digital and eBusiness, Advisor Services at CIBC Asset Management, where he led a team working on a broad scope of digital projects. He was also Digital Marketing Manager at VenGrowth, where he worked on award-winning integrated campaigns.
When not at work, Guy spends his time with family and his two dogs.
Jason is Creative Director at Ext. Marketing. He has more than 20 years of experience working with clients across a range of industries. He brings a passion for developing and executing highly effective marketing and brand identity campaigns across multiple platforms, including print, digital, signage, web and social media.
Within the financial industry, Jason’s previous work includes leading design projects for OMERS, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and CAAT Pension Plan. He excels at collaborating with and guiding other creative professionals to ensure that project goals exceed client expectations. Jason is a skilled communicator and enjoys working directly with clients to help achieve successful outcomes.
As Director of Digital Solutions at Ext. Marketing, Gemma helps companies raising capital set their long-term marketing strategy. She also collaborates with strategic partners to ensure regulatory and offering terms are set and managed correctly. Throughout her career in financial services marketing, she has worked with wealth management firms, fintechs and banks, to help improve client and advisor satisfaction and increase corporate brand recognition. Gemma graduated from McGill University with a BA in Political Science and has completed the Canadian Securities Course.
As Writer and Researcher at Ext. Marketing, Rojen writes investment commentaries, crafts marketing collateral and distils financial data into clear, digestible formats. He has enjoyed education on both sides of the pond. In Wimbledon, London, where he took A-levels in Maths, French, English and Physics, as well as in Vancouver, where he studied English Literature at the University of British Columbia.
He has a keen eye for detail and relishes the challenge of large proofing assignments that regularly land on his desk. Prior to joining Ext. Marketing, Rojen held a position as an equity research editor in Taiwan for Yuanta Securities Co. Ltd., which laid the foundation for his investments and financial services knowledge and provided a wonderful opportunity to learn Mandarin.
In his free time, Rojen enjoys hiking, golfing and playing soccer (when his knee cooperates) and fondly recalls his days playing Rugby.
As a Graphic Designer at Ext. Marketing, Susan helps clients express their brand in a digital environment by crafting useful and aesthetically pleasing websites. Prior to Ext. Marketing, Susan completed a double master’s degree program in Information Design at Politecnico di Milano and Communication design at Tsinghua University. Through this experience, she discovered a special interest in data visualization and infographics to help explain complex ideas. Susan also has a wide range of experience working as a graphic and UI designer at start-ups and design agencies.
Susan is always learning in her spare time and looking for new project ideas. She also enjoys making up weird stories, doodling, bookbinding and keeping a dream journal. She also likes to explore new cities, bike and swim.
As an Associate Project Manager at Ext. Marketing, Jeannette has been instrumental in enhancing our investment communications process. She works with our clients to ensure projects are delivered to the highest quality. Jeannette has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry as an Account Manager and Regional Account Manager. Over the years, she has built relationships within fund companies, dealers and manufacturers. Jeannette has a Corporate Communications Diploma from Seneca College as well as the Canadian Investment Funds Operations Course Certificate and Canadian Investment Funds Course Certificate from the IFSE Institute. She is currently pursuing a designation in project management. Some notable companies Jeannette has worked for over the past 20 years are CIBC Mellon, Citi Financial/Citigroup, AIC Limited and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).
As a Graphic Designer at Ext. Marketing, Lilian specializes in creating effective omni-channel communication strategies. With considerable experience in her field working with companies such as Canada Post and Indigo, she has a proven track record of creating visually compelling and on-brand assets for both digital and physical platforms. In her free time, Lilian enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, engaging in meaningful conversations and fun activities. She is also passionate about exploring new cities and seeking out novel experiences that fuel her creativity.
As Project Manager at Ext. Marketing, Eric helps lead the Investment Communications Project Management team and is responsible for managing a portfolio of clients. Eric spends his day hosting meetings, building client relationships and keeping the team informed!
With over five years of agency experience, Eric is used to working in a fast-paced environment and doing so with a smile on his face. Eric holds a B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Project Management certificate from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing his PMP.
When Eric isn’t sending emails, you can find him travelling, enjoying time with friends and family, or most likely, watching hockey, more specifically, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Shane is Digital Engagement Media Manager at Ext. Marketing, specializing in paid media. As a digital marketing manager with over seven years of experience in the marketing industry, he has managed successful campaigns across various platforms, including Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Ads and more, for a diverse range of clients. His passion for staying current on the latest industry trends and technologies has helped him consistently deliver outstanding results. Shane is a data-driven marketer, optimizing campaigns for better performance. In his free time, he loves reading about digital marketing and experimenting with new marketing tools and platforms.
Hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Clelia moved to Canada in 2019 to study Tourism and Hospitality Management at George Brown. COVID-19 forced her to complete her degree online, during which time her interests led her elsewhere. After graduation, Clelia worked at the Bank of New York as an Administrative Assistant, helping customers open accounts overseas. She loved living the corporate life for over a year. She joined Ext. Marketing in 2022 as Administrative Assistant, a role in which she helps manage the day-to-day issues that affect our growing company.
Chad is an award-winning Senior Creative with over 15 years of industry experience, across all media including 360 campaigns, print, digital, social media, direct mail, collateral, CRM, out-of-home and video. Driven by customer insights and behaviours, he delivers engaging and impactful work for companies in the financial sector including Interac, RBC, DUCA Financial Services and Manulife.
As for life outside of the office, Chad is a passionate Pittsburgh Penguins fan. He can usually be found on a golf course (he once shot par with only a 5-iron), or on a bike ride in search of ice cream, construction sites and “Big trucks!” with his son.
Danielle is Managing Editor, Investment Communications at Ext. Marketing. Danielle has more than 20 years of experience as a financial writer and editor, with a focus on investor communications. She began her career as a senior editor at Standard & Poor’s and later joined the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) as a plain language specialist. She worked with the Canadian Securities Administrators on a series of investor education brochures and was part of a team that was engaged to rewrite significant portions of the Investor Education Fund website.
Thanks to her time at the OSC, Danielle realized she had a passion for helping retail investors better understand complex investment topics. She started her own investor communications business, where she had the pleasure of writing about personal finance and investing for many Canadian trade and consumer magazines, including Advisor’s Edge, Benefits Canada and Today’s Parent. She then transitioned into Managing Editor roles and was responsible for driving the editorial direction of two large trade publications focused on insurance and investing.
Demeris is an Account Manager at Ext. Marketing. Keenly focused on client success, she has experience actively managing enterprise-level portfolios and playing a key role in ensuring company retention and revenue. Demeris has a background in equity crowdfunding and fintech, where she helped startups run marking campaigns that raised millions in capital.
Demeris has also supported equity crowdfunding campaigns as an escrow agent. In that role, she worked with StartEngine, Republic and the Dalmore Group in managing their various offerings from compliance KYC checks, disbursements, and distributions.
Demeris is dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction and long-term success by building strong relationships and providing exceptional service.
As a Writer at Ext. Marketing, Emma plays a pivotal role in delivering exceptional content and messaging for our clients across Canada and the U.S. Emma excels at writing and editing content that compels and converts – from ad copy and brochures to social media content and emails. With a keen interest in digital content creation, Emma navigates the complexities of investment products, staying on top of industry trends to tailor compelling content for Ext. Marketing’s diverse audiences.
Emma began her career at a digital marketing agency specializing in Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising, crafting blog content for their website. Transitioning to Social Media Management, Emma curated and published a variety of social media posts and snackable content, expanding her digital marketing skills.
Emma is a graduate of Queen’s University with an Honours Degree in English Literature as well as a graduate from George Brown College, where she completed a postgraduate certificate in Digital Media Marketing.
When Emma isn’t writing or reading, you can find her on the tennis court or the slopes.
Parika is a Media Operations Specialist at Ext. Marketing. With a rich four-year background in B2C and B2B digital marketing, her expertise spans social media management, organic and paid marketing campaigns across platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads, and effective vendor management. A staunch believer in data- driven decision-making, Parika ensures every strategy and choice is backed by solid data.
Her passion for content writing infuses creativity into her analytical work. She embodies a unique blend of creativity and precision and is always in tune with the latest marketing trends and tools.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Parika’s love for animals highlights her well-rounded and compassionate nature.