About Us

CardinalStone Asset Management Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CardinalStone Partners Limited.

The firm was incorporated on April 19, 2016 and licensed by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 18, 2019 to offer fund management services to clients.

We offer a broad range of investment products ranging from equities to fixed income and alternative investments. Prior to obtaining our license, our firm provided fund management services operating under CardinalStone Partners Limited.

The Company’s objective is to offer investment support and guidance that is responsive to our clients’ needs and deliver long-term value to clients. We serve institutional, high net worth and retail clients, and seek to build lasting relationships with our clients.

Our Vision

To build a world class Asset Management firm of African origin.

Our Mission

To position ourselves as the most trusted long-term advisor & financier to our target clients.

Our Culture

Over the years at CardinalStone, considerable effort has gone into fostering an inviting, vibrant yet challenging work environment that ensures we are in alignment with our vision. The CardinalStone brand promise is captured in 8 key elements which when taken together, we call The CardinalStone Way:

Trust

We only promise what we can deliver, and deliver what we promise.

Organizational Structure

We create opportunities for our people to have dynamic careers.

Meritocracy

We encourage and celebrate excellence, but challenge the ordinary.

Respect

We always treat everyone with courtesy and dignity.

People

We invest in our people.

One Firm

We all work together towards our common goal.

Leadership

We act as owners and hold each other accountable.

Standards

We strive to maintain the highest standards in all we do.

Value Proposition

Direct and Proactive Client Engagement

We strive to optimize each client’s experience. Clients get proactive service from their Investment Advisor who knows them, their preferences and helps them stay updated with insightful market dynamics.

Online Access

We grant all clients online access to their accounts. This keeps you informed and ensures complete transparency.

Tailored Investment Strategy

Whether our client is conservative or an aggressive investor, our bespoke investment plans are designed to suit the client. Our goal is to help clients consistently achieve set investment objectives with due considerations to the prevailing market conditions.

Diversification Across Asset Classes

We manage investments across various asset classes – equities, fixed income, currencies, real estate and other alternative investment solutions.

Disciplined Approach

Our Portfolio Managers build portfolios tailored to each client’s specific investment needs based on sound investment and risk management principles.

Management Team

Chairman Of The Board

Mairo Bashir

Mairo currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of CreditCorp Limited—a consulting and advisory services firm based in Lagos—and as a Director on the boards of Information Connectivity Solutions Limited, Enownow Limited, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. Mairo is a founding member of Women in Management and Business (Wimbiz) and has served as a member of the Federal Government Steering Committee on Solid Minerals. Prior to founding CreditCorp, Mairo served in various management positions in United Bank for Africa (UBA), rising to become Executive Director, Corporate Services at the bank.

She was also Director of UBA Capital and Trust Limited; a fully owned subsidiary of UBA. Before joining UBA, Mairo worked in various institutions including International Merchant Bank Limited, where she gained experience across operations, credit and marketing. Mairo holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and an MBA in Finance from the University of Jos.

Executive Director

Mohammed Garuba

Mohammed is one of the co-founders of CardinalStone Partners Limited. Prior to joining the firm, he served as Director of Equity Securities at Renaissance Capital where he was responsible for setting up and driving the company’s securities trading and sales business in Nigeria. Before joining Renaissance Capital, Mohammed served as Managing Director of Zenith Securities Limited, a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc, where he oversaw strategy, deal origination and execution. He began his banking career at Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (Now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc) where he worked in asset management and was involved in managing institutional investors, mutual funds, and structured funds.

Mohammed holds an MBA from London Business School and a B.Sc. in Insurance from the University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria. He is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, UK and an alumnus of Yale University and Harvard Kennedy School.

He is the Founder and President of Ansar Heritage Empowerment Foundation. He is passionate about boxing, football, golf and tennis and enjoys mentoring, reading, and volunteering.

Managing Director

Oluwaseyi Osunlalu

Oluwaseyi Osunlalu is the Managing Director of CardinalStone Asset Management Limited. Prior to this, she was the Head of Investment Advisory overseeing skilled advisors in providing investment solutions that cater to the needs of a diverse clientele base.

Oluwaseyi has 10 years professional experience in the financial service industry that cuts across asset management, financial planning, wealth management, sales & relationship management, credit analysis, market research and product development.

Before joining CardinalStone, she worked at AIICO Capital as a Senior Relationship Manager and at Fina Trust MFB as the Head of Personal and Corporate Banking.

Oluwaseyi holds a BSc in Microbiology from Covenant University.

Executive Director

Mariam Bolakale

Mariam Bolakale is the Regional Head – North of Investment Advisory at CAM.

Mariam has over 10 years’ experience in financial services. She started her career in FCMB (Formerly Fin Bank) in the customer experience unit, from where she joined Asset & Resources Management Limited (ARM) in the Investment Managers Centre. She subsequently joined CardinalStone in 2015 and was appointed to the board of CAM in 2022.

Mariam holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Ilorin, and she is an Associate member of WIMBIZ. She is currently undergoing her Executive MBA with Lagos Business School, having completed some Leadership and Strategic Management courses in MSBM (UK) and Harvard Business Education

Non-Executive Director

Michael Nzewi

Michael is one of the founding partners of CardinalStone. Michael most recently served as a Director in the Global Markets division at the London offices of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). At SCB, Michael was responsible for originating and structuring corporate and leverage debt transactions for the sub-Saharan African region. Prior to joining SCB, Michael served as the pioneer Head of Corporate Finance at Vetiva Capital Management where he successfully executed several high profile advisory and financing mandates for financial institutions and corporates in Nigeria. He also worked briefly in the Corporate Finance Division of Access Bank Plc. Michael began his banking career at Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (Now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc) and prior to that, qualified as a Chartered Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Michael holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Benin, Nigeria and an MBA from Said Business School, Oxford University, UK. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Michael is married with two children and is an avid Chelsea Football Club supporter.

Independent Director 

Yomi Adeyemi

Yomi Adeyemi is a graduate of Mathematics / Statistics with over twenty years of diverse finance industry experience in Corporate & Investment Banking, Stockbrokerage Services, and Strategic Business Turnaround. He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is also a CFA Charterholder and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School Executive Programme. Yomi has attended various training programmes in finance, leadership, and governance internationally including the Harvard Business School. 

He started his banking career with Merchant Bank of Commerce (MBCOM) in 1999. He left in 2000 to join the Corporate Banking Division of Lead Merchant Bank. Whilst at Lead Bank, he also worked in the Investment Banking Group that participated in various landmark capital market transactions. He was later seconded to the brokerage arm of the Bank (Lead Investments & Securities Limited) to revamp its dwindling fortune.  

Yomi left the Lead Bank Group in 2004 to join Core Trust & Investment Limited as Head, Financial Advisory Group, a position he held till 2008 when he left to take up the position of Managing Director/CEO, Fortress Capital Limited.  

Yomi has other business interests spanning Real Estate, Media & Advertising. He currently sits on the boards of Livestock Feeds Plc, Connect Marketing Services Limited, and Red Media Group in non-executive capacities. He is also a Council Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange representing dealing member firms.  

He actively plays soccer, squash, and chess. He volunteers for Life Changers Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the less privileged through Education, Vocation & Enterprise. 

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