Meet the Management Team
Larry G. Swets Jr., Executive Chair
Mr. Swets serves as Head of Merchant Banking of Fundamental Global Inc. (formerly FG Financial Group Inc.) (Nasdaq: FGF) since February 2024 and served as Chief Executive Officer of Fundamental Global Inc. from November 2020 to February 2024, which operates as a diversified reinsurance, investment management and real estate holding company, as well as manager of FGAC Investors LLC. Mr. Swets also serves as Chief Executive Officer of FG Merger II Corp. and FG Merger III Corp., two special purpose acquisition corporations in the process of completing their initial public offerings. Mr. Swets has over 25 years’ experience with financial services encompassing both non-executive and executive roles. Mr. Swets has been a member of the board of directors of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSX: FGP) since 2016. Mr. Swets founded Itasca Financial LLC, an advisory and investment firm, in 2005 and has served as its managing member since inception. Mr. Swets also founded and is the President of Itasca Golf Managers, Inc., a management services and advisory firm focused on the real estate and hospitality industries, in August 2018. Mr. Swets earned a Master’s Degree in Finance from DePaul University in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Valparaiso University in 1997. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Kyle Cerminara, Vice Chair
Mr. Cerminara has over 20 years’ experience as an institutional investor, asset manager, director, chief executive, founder and operator of multiple financial services and technology businesses. Mr. Cerminara co-founded Fundamental Global in 2012 and serves as its CEO. Mr. Cerminara is a member of the board of directors of a number of companies in the reinsurance, investment management, technology and communication sectors, including Strong Global Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE American: SGE), a leader in the entertainment industry providing mission critical products and services to cinema exhibitors and entertainment venues, since March 2022; FG Communities, Inc., a real estate management company focused on preserving and improving affordable housing, since July 2022; and Firefly Systems Inc., a venture-backed digital advertising company since August 2020. Since October 2023 and November 2023, Mr. Cerminara has served as chairman of FG Merger II Corp. and FG Merger III Corp., respectively, special purpose acquisition corporations in the process of completing their initial public offerings. Mr. Cerminara received an MBA degree from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst Designation.
Andrew Clark, CEO
Mr. Clark is a proven business-builder, having served as an advisor to and director of a number of high-growth businesses including Andlauer Healthcare Group (TSX: AHG), ClearEstate Technologies and Dominion City Brewing. Most recently, Mr. Clark was a co-founder of Anthem Partners, which has grown in just three years to be one of the top 10 largest businesses in the North American bereavement sector, with 75 locations and more than 350 employees across North America. Prior to founding Anthem, Mr. Clark served as Chairman & CEO of Park Lawn Corporation (TSX: PLC). Mr. Clark joined PLC as Chief Operating Officer in September 2011 after leading a group of investors in the acquisition of approximately 15% of the company. Mr. Clark was appointed as the CEO of the company in July 2013. Under his leadership, PLC grew from a market capitalization of approximately $30 million to almost $900 million, delivering a total return of 337% to shareholders. Prior to joining PLC, Mr. Clark founded a successful tourism and hospitality business, which grew to become a leader in its field with operations and staff in the UK, Canada and the US. The business was ultimately merged with Canada’s largest privately held travel company in 2008. Mr. Clark earned a Master’s Degree from The University of St. Andrews in 2000 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Mount Allison University in 1998.
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Hassan R. Baqar, CFO
Mr. Baqar serves as CFO, Corporate Secretary and a director of FGAC and a manager of FGAC Investors LLC. Mr. Baqar also serves as CFO of FG Merger II Corp. and FG Merger III Corp., two special purpose acquisition corporations in the process of completing their initial public offerings. Mr. Baqar has over 20 years of experience within financial services and other industries focusing on corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, investments and real estate transactions. Mr. Baqar has served as the founder and managing member of Sequoia Financial LLC, a financial services and advisory firm, since January 2019. Mr. Baqar has also served as CFO from August 2021 to February 2024 and Executive Vice President from December 2021 to February 2024 of Fundamental Global Inc (Nasdaq: FGF); CFO of Insurance Income Strategies Ltd., a former Bermuda-based reinsurance company, from October 2017 to December 2021; director of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (TSX: GFP) from August 2019 to December 2021, and CFO of GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. from June 2016 to December 2020. Mr. Baqar earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 2009 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Monmouth College in 2000. Mr. Baqar also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst Designation.
Robert Clark, CIO
Most recently, along with a group of industry veterans, Mr. Clark co-founded Anthem Partners in late 2020. In just three years, Anthem has grown to be one of the top 10 largest businesses in the North American bereavement sector, with 75 locations and more than 350 employees across North America. Prior to co-founding Anthem Partners, Mr. Clark served as Vice-President & Managing Director, Investments at Park Lawn Corporation (TSX: PLC), where he had responsibility for the management of more than $400 million of pre-need and perpetual care trust funds. His mandate from PLC included the charge to structure an investment management platform to fully leverage the significant and unique nature of the company’s funeral trust fund assets. Prior to joining PLC, Mr. Clark served as Vice President, Investments at Bentall Kennedy (now BentallGreenOak), where he led internal and external transaction teams to source and execute investments and dispositions pursuant to Bentall’s client and fund-specific investment strategies. Prior to Bentall, Mr. Clark worked in various progressively senior investment and development roles for several large Canadian institutional investors. Mr. Clark earned a Master’s Degree from Cornell University in 2010 and a Bachelor’s Degree from Dalhousie University in 2005.