About Us

THE SILVERTHORN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS WEALTH PROCESS

To achieve our objectives of Wealth Preservation and Wealth Growth for your company’s employees, Silverthorn conducts a highly detailed and comprehensive company EB requirements process.

A Silverthorn EB specialist meets with each company individually and gathers all relevant financial information and data regarding the company’s requirements.

We establish the company’s EB goals and conduct a disciplined financial needs and risk analysis.

We then develop and present Silverthorn’s recommended EB investment strategy, taking into account investment portfolio recommendations, financial and income needs, taxation and estate planning.

We then regularly monitor, report and periodically update the Company’s EB plan in accordance with changing investment dynamics and circumstances.

SILVERTHORN CUSTOMER CARE

The core of our business at Silverthorn Wealth is customer care. Customer-Centricity is our guiding mantra. This means placing our client's needs and goals at the forefront of all interactions. 

Providing tailored, goal-based EB recommendations to help companies manage their and their employees’ investment and retirement objectives. 

Fostering trust through ethical and honest conduct, acting in the client's best interests when managing their EB investment and savings. 

Clearly explaining the rationale behind recommendations, products and be strategies to the company . 

Recognising that EB services are relational and require effort to provide an exceptional, individualised client experience. 

Addressing client needs and concerns timeously.

Clearly communicating potential risks, especially if a company chooses to proceed with a transaction or strategy different from the recommended one. 

Providing efficient and accessible channels for companies to resolve issues. 

Silverthorn is so committed to customer care that we have a highly qualified Director of Client Care and all our staff sign our Client Care Charter that guides the service provided to our clients.

THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM BEHIND YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Chairman

Ian Kilbride

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Ian Kilbride, LLB (Hons). During his long and distinguished career Ian has held many key positions and directorships within listed and private companies based in various jurisdictions including South Africa, United Kingdom, Mauritius, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. He was the founder and Chairman of the Appleton Group, taking it to its successful listing in 1999 and has extensive knowledge of the wealth management industry, in which he has been actively involved for over 30 years. The Founder and Chairman of the Spirit Foundation, which houses three foundations focused on education, wildlife and the community upliftment (Spiritfoundation.info), he is passionately committed to social development. Kilbride is an Honorary Professor at Stellenbosch Business School. www.iankilbride.com

Chief Executive Officer

Marc Wiese

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Marc Wiese, BCom Hons. (Financial Management). Marc graduated at the top of his class with Honours in BCom Financial Management from the University of Stellenbosch. Marc joined the group in 2012 and has gained extensive experience across all divisions of the business. He was appointed to the Board and EXCO in July 2014 and has since held numerous positions including Financial Director, Chief Executive Officer of Operations, Investment Management and Wealth Management. Marc’s background knowledge of the group and the financial services industry positions him well to lead Silverthorn and to implement its ambitious expansion plans across South Africa.

Chief Financial Officer

Tiaan Meyer

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Tiaan Meyer, BAcc (Hons), CA(SA). Tiaan completed his B. Com at the University of Stellenbosch, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2012. He started his career as an auditor where he gained valuable exposure across various industries, ranging from small investment firms to JSE listed companies. Before joining the group, Tiaan spent five years at Woolworths in the Corporate Finance division, first as Group Accountant and subsequently moving into the Africa division where he played an integral part in growing the business across the continent. He joined the group in 2015 where he began his career as the Head of Finance and was promoted to the position of Financial Director in 2017 and subsequently Chief Financial Officer.

General Manager

Jason Lubbe

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Jason Lubbe (NQF Level 6 Financial Markets and Instruments: Wealth Management) brings over 34 years of experience in the financial services industry, having held senior management roles at leading financial institutions and successfully operating his own financial distribution business for the past 12 years. Jason provides strategic leadership and operational oversight across the employee benefits division. He is responsible for delivering tailor-made solutions for all members, ensuring they are comprehensively covered, while maintaining service excellence across all areas of the business. He is focused on delivering a bespoke and holistic offering that integrates all aspects of employee benefits, including Retirement Fund solutions, Group Risk benefits, Health benefits, and GAP cover, to ensure comprehensive, aligned, and outcomes-driven value for employers and their employees.

Director of Operations

Ryan Magee

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Ryan Magee, BSocSc LOPHRM (Hons.), MSocSc. Ryan is a University of Cape Town alumnus from where he holds multiple degrees, including a BSocSci LOPHRM, a BSocSci Honours degree in Change Management and a Master’s degree (MSocSc) in Organisational Psychology. He has held a range of important managerial positions within the group, leading to his promotion as Director of Operations. With this depth and range of skills and experience, Ryan is ideally positioned to lead operations with the Group.

Director of Client Administration

Christiaan le Grange

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Christiaan has more than 21 years’ experience in the financial services sector. With 17 years spent with a major national institution where he developed a passion for clients and ‘putting the client first’. He joined the group in 2014 and leads client administration and banking, where he strives to deliver the most professional service in South Africa.

Director of Take-On

Connor Kilbride

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Connor is a graduate of Exeter University, earning a First Class Honours in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He has since completed two postgraduate programmes in the field of Strategic Business and Management, at Stellenbosch University Business School and Cambridge University in the UK. Connor joined the group in 2022, and his role is to ensure that the group’s professional Merger and Advisory agreements throughout the country are onboarded successfully and efficiently.

Director of Communications

Tim Hughes

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Tim Hughes, BA (Hons), MA (Cum Laude), MSt (Cum Laude), MSc (Cum Laude), PGDip, Cert. Dir. (SA), CMI (UK). Tim is a graduate of UCT, Cambridge, Oxford and London universities. He is a former university lecturer and parliamentary research fellow. He has consulted to numerous major international and local corporations. He holds the prestigious title of Certified Director (SA), is a member of the Chartered Management Institute (UK) and brings 30 years’ experience in the corporate, political, think tank, academic, research and communications fields.

Director of Client Care

Cobus van Schalkwyk

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Cobus van Schalkwyk, BCom (Law), LLB, PG Dip (Financial Planning). Cobus was admitted as an Attorney in the Western Cape High Court in 2007. In 2010, he expanded his expertise by completing his Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning and successfully passing the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board exam. As the Director of Client Care at Silverthorn, Cobus is dedicated to ensuring exceptional service and fostering long-term relationships with clients, while also contributing to the company’s overall success and growth.

Director of Marketing

Wendy De Sousa

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With some two decades of experience with the group, Wendy is responsible for directing and managing Silverthorn’s comprehensive marketing, advertising and publications portfolio. She has overall responsibility for the group’s leading-edge social media profile as well as its portfolio of renowned publications. Wendy’s professional mantra is to continually enhance the company’s marketing profile, while delivering ever richer quality material to our clients.

EXTERNAL COMPLIANCE

In addition to our internal compliance department, our external compliance services are provided by one of the country’s leading companies in the field – Compli-Serve, (https://compliserve.co.za/).