Richard van Dijk CFP® (Johannesburg)
CEO
Contact: +27 83 375 7884
Email: richard@ebbluestar.com
Prior to joining Sanlam, Richard spent 22 successful years with Liberty Life where he became Divisional Director of Sales, Marketing and Promotions, a division he established and led for a number of years, amassing numerous awards including the MD’s Award for Exceptional Contribution. Joining Sanlam in 2008 as General Manager, Richard was responsible for the distribution of SEB products and services. He enjoyed 6 successful years with SEB and was the recipient of the CEO’s Award. In August 2014, he jumped at the opportunity to lead EB BlueStar in a strategic partnership with SFA and SEB. A recognised industry leader, Richard is qualified as a Certified Financial Planner, and is a previous winner of the Top Investment Candidate Award of FPI. He is also passionate about industry education and designed an INSETA accredited Wealth Management qualification for Corporate Specialists.
Carol Ann Sing (Johannesburg)
Contact:+27 73 452 0977
Email: carol@ebbluestar.com
Carol joined Sanlam in 2013 as a Support Specialist and brought with her many years of industry experience. Having previously worked in the Employee and Corporate Benefits divisions of top firms such as Hollard, Investec and Liberty, Carol is a great asset to the business and has been previously nominated for Support Specialist of the Year. Her responsibilities at EB BlueStar include the administration of quotes, servicing and liaising with clients.
Rob Reynolds (Johannesburg)
Contact: +27 84 505 2696
Email: rob@ebbluestar.com
Rob joined EB BlueStar in October 2014 as a Contracted Benefit Consultant, responsible for consulting, servicing of existing client funds, marketing employee benefits amongst Sanlam’s financial advisory services, and the securing of new employee benefits business. With over 40 years’ experience in the employee benefits industry, Rob has worked across the full spectrum in administration, marketing, servicing and new business for both insurers and consulting actuarial brokerages.
Caroline Dumah (Johannesburg)
Contact: +27 74 271 8210
Email: caroline@ebbluestar.com
Caroline joined EB Bluestar in March 2017 after her Project Management Internship at Nomaku Traders. She is currently responsible for the administration of quotes, and servicing and liaising with clients. She is also responsible for our EB BlueStar Cares initiative, which was introduced in the year 2017 to assist with various social struggles in our communities, supporting various charities and worthy causes. Caroline completed her BA Industrial Psychology Degree and International Relations Degree at the Witwatersrand University in 2014.
Zinhle Qwabe (Johannesburg)
Contact: +27 84 256 9143
Email: zinhle@ebbluestar.com
Zinhle joined EB BlueStar in July 2017 and has a Degree in Business Administration. She has worked as a Call Centre Agent at Jumo, a debt counselling company, was a Data Capturer at Atlas Finance, and worked as an Administrator at T Mabuya & Associates. She currently holds the position of Receptionist and Administration Support.
Sandii Bartlett (Cape Town)
Contact: +27 83 375 8149
Email: sandii@ebbluestar.com
Sandii has an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and over 30 years’ experience in the employee benefits industry. She joined Sanlam in November 2011 and was SEB’s Corporate Specialist of the Year in 2013. Sandii is excited about being part of EB BlueStar as she is passionate about working in the tied agency market. She was involved in developing the relationship between employee benefits and the tied agency forces of Southern Life, Momentum Life, Sage Life, Liberty Life and Standard Bank Financial Consultants.
Ladida Jansen (Cape Town)
Contact: +27 83 640 5066
Email: ladida@ebbluestar.com
Ladida joined Sanlam on 1 August 2003 as an Administrator in the freestanding Pension and Provident Funds department. She later became a team leader supervising a team of administrators in the same department, and was then appointed Assistant Manager of the Administration department. During 2010 she decided to make a change in her career and joined the Distribution of SEB as Support Specialist. In August she saw a growth opportunity in EB BlueStar, with the strategic partnership with SFA and SEB. Prior to joining Sanlam, she spent 4 years with Gilt Edged Management Services as a Collections/Credit Controller and obtained a Diploma in Financial Management.
Shouneez Badat (Cape Town)
Contact:+27 84 244 5331
Email:shouneez@ebbluestar.com
Shouneez has 12 years’ experience in employee benefits, and has been with Sanlam since 2008. Her responsibilities at EB BlueStar include the administration of quotes, as well as servicing and liaising with clients. She is currently in the process of obtaining a National Certificate in Wealth Management, and was nominated for Support Specialist of the Year in 2013.
Diane Smith CFP® (Western Cape)
Contact: +27 83 275 2582
Email: diane@ebbluestar.com
Diane joined EB BlueStar in May 2018, although she has been involved with Employee Benefits since 1992, working for Norwich, Fedsure and Investec. Most recently she worked at Liberty Corporate where she was seconded to Standard Bank Financial Consultancy to manage their Employee Benefits division in the Western Cape. Diane holds a CFP and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and Employee Benefits, and she is involved in umbrella fund sales, consulting and business development in the Western Cape division of EB BlueStar.
Renet Laas (Pretoria)
Contact:+27 82 708 7096
Email: renet@ebbluestar.com
Renet is a member of the FPI and is accredited in terms of FAIS legislation to consult with retirement funds on a broad range of retirement fund management issues. After joining SEB in 1986, Renet moved to the Individual Life side as Administration Manager. Her career then shifted to human resources for a few years, before returning to Sanlam Consultants and Actuaries in 2000. Renet joined Simeka Consultants and Actuaries when they formed in 2005, and remained there until 2009 when she moved to Sanlam Distribution to specialise in the umbrella fund and risk market. She then joined EB BlueStar in 2014, where she currently works as Consultant.
Cassandra Nadas (Pretoria)
Contact:+27 83 286 5782
Email: cassandra@ebbluestar.com
Cassandra joined SEB in October 2008 as a Support Specialist providing admin support to the client solution specialists. During her time at SEB, she obtained her National Certificate in Wealth Management and successfully completed the Regulatory Exam (RE5). In 2014, she was the recipient of the Support Specialist of the Year Award, and in February 2017, she saw an opportunity with EB Bluestar for further professional and individual growth.
Albert Blignaut (Constantia Kloof)
Contact: +27 84 254 6196
Email: albert@ebbluestar.com
Albert entered the financial industry in 1990 and, after experiencing successful periods at Old Mutual, Fedsure and Safrican, he joined Sanlam in 2007 as a new business consultant. He was incorporated into the SEB structure as an Employee Benefits Specialist and enjoyed 6 rewarding years in this position before jumping at the opportunity to join EB BlueStar in 2014. Having obtained his Intermediate Certificate in Business Studies through IISA, Albert has a real passion for the retirement fund industry.
Rich Prinsloo (Gauteng)
Contact:+27 82 889 6356
Email: rich@ebbluestar.com
Rich joined EB BlueStar in February 2018. He started his career at Absa Consultants and Actuaries, before moving to Investment Solutions, and more recently worked as a Retirement Fund Specialist in Business Development for Glacier at Sanlam, where he was responsible for developing the use of the Glacier Investment platform on the Sanlam Umbrella Fund. Rich holds an Honours Degree in Investment Management and brings a wealth of experience in investment consulting to intermediaries.
Michael Visser CFP® (Durban)
Contact: +27 82 576 0691
Email: michael@ebbluestar.com
Michael joined Sanlam in 2010 as a Regional Manager for SEB Distribution. Prior to that, he spent the majority of his career with Old Mutual Broker Distribution. Michael holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and CFP status, and has in excess of 20 years’ experience in the investment, employee benefits and wider financial services industries. Michael joined EB BlueStar in 2017 and is responsible for business development and intermediary distribution in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, while also providing support in parts of the Eastern Cape.
Amanda Naidoo (Durban)
Contact:+27 64 650 3159
Email: amanda@ebbluestar.com
Prior to joining SEB, Amanda worked as Client Liaison and Administrator at Sanlam Private Wealth. She joined SEB as a Personal Assistant to the Regional Manager in 2012. During her tenure she was awarded Support Specialist of the Year. In May of 2019, she moved over to EB BlueStar, where she is now responsible for administration, new business quotations, servicing and liaising with financial advisers, brokers and clients.