Our team combines expertise with sector specialisation, ensuring an in-depth understanding of our clients’ requirements.
Our team of finance graduates, chartered accountants, and CFAs, with experience across multiple sectors, makes BSM well placed to partner with both local and international clients and assist them to make better investment decisions.
University of Cape Town
B Bus Sci (Fin) (Hons)
Deloitte Financial Services
Cape Town
CA (SA)
Qualified as Chartered Accountant
AfrAsia Corporate Finance
Senior Associate
Investec Corporate Finance
Consultant
BSM
Director at BSM and BSM Black
Patrick Birkett
Founding Director
B Bus Sci (Finance) (Hons), CA (SA)
Patrick is a corporate finance executive and founding director of Birkett Stewart McHendrie. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and co-founded the business in 2015 after having worked at AfrAsia and Investec Bank Limited. Patrick has advised clients on a number of significant mergers and acquisitions, IPO’s, private equity transactions, corporate restructurings and listings and has an in-depth knowledge of distressed M&A and the business rescue environment in South Africa.
EMAIL patrick@bsmcf.com
University of Cape Town
B Bus Sci (Fin) (Hons)
Investec
Trainee Accountant Programme Johannesburg
CA (SA)
Qualified as Chartered Accountant
Investec
Corporate Finance Consultant
CFA Institute
Qualified as CFA
BSM
Director at BSM and Tenurey BSM
Shaun Stewart
Founding DirectorB Bus Sci (Finance) (Hons), CA (SA), CFA
Shaun is a corporate finance executive and founding director of Birkett Stewart McHendrie. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. Shaun co-founded the business in 2015 after having worked at Investec Bank Limited for seven years. Shaun has advised clients on a number of significant mergers and acquisitions, disposals, corporate restructures, capital raises, and listings, and has developed an expertise in the property sector.
EMAIL shaun@bsmcf.com
University of Cape Town
B Bus Sci (Fin) (Hons)
Investec
Trainee Accountant Programme Johannesburg
CA (SA)
Qualified as Chartered Accountant
Investec
Corporate Finance Consultant
BSM
Director at BSM
Dean McHendrie
Founding DirectorBCom (Hons), CA (SA)
Dean is a corporate finance executive and founding director of Birkett Stewart McHendrie. He is a UCT graduate and qualified Chartered Accountant who co-founded the business in 2015 after having served his accounting articles at EY followed by 4 years at Investec Bank’s Investment Banking and Corporate Finance division. Over the course of Dean’s corporate finance and advisory career, he has advised several clients, across numerous sectors, on the successful implementation and conclusion of multiple M&A transactions, capital raises, private equity transactions, IPOs, corporate restructurings and transaction services including independent financial due diligences and valuations. He is passionate about working with his clients and solving for complex matters that are presented in most transactions.
WITS UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Accounting
KPMG
Consumer & Retail Markets, Johannesburg
CA (SA)
Qualified as CA (SA)
KPMG
KPMG Audit and L&D Manager
Investec
Investec CA programme Manager
INVESTEC
Investec Corporate Finance JSE Equity Sponsor
Investec
Investment Banking Compliance Head
BSM
BSM Sponsor Director
Tanya Cesare
BSM Sponsors Director and Head of Business DevelopmentCA (SA), JSE Approved Executive
Tanya is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 21 years of overall experience and seasoned professional with 13 years’ experience in investment banking. She joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2022 and heads Business Development and Sponsor services. Her focus includes regulatory oversight, corporate actions, IPOs, and listings, with a strong emphasis on risk assessment and regulatory compliance. Tanya has advised on numerous transactions and brings deep knowledge of South Africa’s listed corporate environment.
EMAIL tanya@bsmcf.com
Michael Wiseman
Associate DirectorCA (SA), Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, BCom (Accounting)
Michael is an Associate Director at Birkett Stewart McHendrie and joined the firm in 2018. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed his articles with Deloitte in 2015. Prior to joining Birkett Stewart McHendrie, Michael was an assistant audit manager in the Banking and Capital Markets division at Deloitte’s London office. Michael has experience in mergers and acquisitions, financial modelling, valuations and financial due diligence. Michael’s industry experience includes healthcare, pharmaceuticals, banking and financial services, logistics, manufacturing and FMCG.
EMAIL michael@bsmcf.com
Deon Slabbert
Associate Director
BCom Acc (Hons), CA (SA), CAIA
Deon is an Associate Director in the Mergers & Acquisitions team at Birkett Stewart McHendrie. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. Since 2019, Deon has built a strong track record in Corporate Finance, complemented by international experience gained during his tenure at KPMG in the Cayman Islands. With over seven years of industry experience, he has played a key advisory role in M&A transactions across a broad spectrum of sectors, including construction, insurance, business services, manufacturing, and telecommunications. His expertise includes deal execution, strategic advisory, and financial valuation and analysis.
EMAIL deon@bsmcf.com
William Lake
Vice PresidentBAcc, BAcc (Hons) CA (SA)
William is a corporate finance Vice President and joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2021. Prior to joining Birkett Stewart McHendrie, William was a Senior Associate at PwC in the Johannesburg office and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2019. William completed his articles in the Technology, Information, Communications and Entertainment divisions. He was later selected to go on an international secondment to PwC Irvine, California where he spent five months as a Senior Associate. William’s Industry experience includes Infrastructure, Insurance, Telecommunications, Entertainment, Marketing, Hospitality and Fleet Management.
EMAIL william@bsmcf.com
Jacques Russouw
Investment Principal
BAcc (Hons), CA(SA)
Jacques Russouw joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2024 and heads up the investment arm for the firm as an Investment Principal, after having worked at African Alliance, a multi-national investment banking group operating across the African continent as a Senior Transactor within the private equity division, as well as Birkett Stewart McHendrie’s corporate division and a boutique family office, where he mainly focused his efforts on identifying and investing the family office’s capital in various listed and private companies.
He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed his articles with PwC in 2016.
EMAIL jacques@bsmcf.com
Craig Gunther
Vice President
CA (SA)
Craig is a corporate finance Vice President and joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2023. Prior to joining Birkett Stewart McHendrie, he was a Manager at PwC and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2021. Craig completed his articles in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications divisions. Post articles: He worked in a dual role as an audit manager while being one of the leading members in the startup of the Media Review service line for PwC Johannesburg. Craig’s industry experience includes hospitality, telecommunications, entertainment, marketing, technology services, and credit management.
EMAIL craig@bsmcf.com
Yalenga Likaku
AnalystB.Fin (Bachelor’s Degree in Finance), MIB (Master’s Degree in International Business)
Yalenga is a Corporate Finance Analyst at Birkett Stewart McHendrie and joined the firm in 2024. He began his corporate finance career at BDA Partners Limited in Shanghai, China, before progressing to the role of Senior Associate at CDH Investment Bank in Blantyre, Malawi. Yalenga has experience in financial modelling and valuations across a range of sectors. He recently passed Level II of the CFA program and is a candidate for the August ’25 CFA Level III.
EMAIL yalenga@bsmcf.com
Pierre du Toit
AnalystBAcc, PGDAS, CA(SA)
Pierre is a Corporate Finance Analyst who joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2025. He completed his articles at BDO South Africa Inc.’s Johannesburg office in December 2024 and is a Chartered Accountant. During his time at BDO, Pierre specialised in the Financial Services, while also gaining exposure to the Consumer Business and Natural Resources sectors. His industry experience spans banking, lending, insurance, asset management, manufacturing, and mining.
EMAIL pierre@bsmcf.com
Murray Long
AnalystCA (SA)
Murray is a Corporate Finance Analyst who joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2025. He completed his PGDA at the University of Cape Town, after which he undertook his articles at PwC Johannesburg in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) division. During this time, he gained experience working with both large, listed companies and smaller private businesses, with a focus on valuations, financial statement analysis, and compliance with JSE, IFRS and ISA requirements.
EMAIL murray@bsmcf.com
Taryn Lahoud
AnalystCA (SA)
Taryn is a Corporate Finance Analyst who joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2026. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having completed her articles at EY Johannesburg in December 2025. Taryn specialised in the Financial Services division with a focus on banking and capital markets. Her professional experience includes banking, stockbroking, and vehicle asset financing.
EMAIL taryn@bsmcf.com
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Business Science, PGDAS
PWC
Johannesburg
CA (SA)
Qualified as Chartered Accountant
Birkett Stewart McHendrie
Analyst
Murray Long
CA (SA)
Murray is a Corporate Finance Analyst who joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2025. He completed his PGDA at the University of Cape Town, after which he undertook his articles at PwC Johannesburg in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) division. During this time, he gained experience working with both large, listed companies and smaller private businesses, with a focus on valuations, financial statement analysis, and compliance with JSE, IFRS and ISA requirements.
MOBILE +27 79 086 1635
EMAIL murray@bsm.africa
University of Johannesburg
Bachelor of Accounting, PGDAS (Hons)
EY
Johannesburg
CA (SA)
Qualified as Chartered Accountant
Birkett Stewart McHendrie
Analyst
Taryn Lahoud
CA (SA)
Taryn is a Corporate Finance Analyst who joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2026. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having completed her articles at EY Johannesburg in December 2025. Taryn specialised in the Financial Services division with a focus on banking and capital markets. Her professional experience includes banking, stockbroking, and vehicle asset financing.
EMAIL taryn@bsm.africa
Rejoyce Zondo
Office AdministratorRejoyce is a trained receptionist and Office Administrator and joined Birkett Stewart McHendrie in 2018.