Meet your team.
Our principals and senior team bring decades of combined experience across investment, fiduciary, accounting, and governance disciplines, with principals remaining directly involved in each client mandate.
President
William J. Messer
(BA, LL.B, TEP)
Bill is a founding partner of Five Continents, established in 1993. His previous experience includes serving as Managing Director of Royal Trust in the Cayman Islands, alongside senior roles in international legal and financial services.
He is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian and International Bar Associations, and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Bill holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of Saskatchewan and a law degree from the University of Wales (UK).
bill.messer@fivecontinents.ky
Katherine Tathum Neatham
(MBA, Acc.Dir.)
Chief Executive Officer
Katherine has worked with Five Continents since its inception and brings more than 15 years' experience in the financial services industry. As Chief Executive Officer, she is responsible for the firm's operations and plays an active role in asset management and strategic oversight.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from York University in Toronto and an MBA from the International College of the Cayman Islands. Katherine is an Accredited Director and is closely involved in the day-to-day leadership of the firm.
katherine.tathum@fivecontinents.ky
Scott Elphinstone
(MBA, CPA, CA, CFA)
Chairman of Investment Committee.
Scott is a founding partner of Five Continents, having joined the firm in 1994. He brings more than 20 years of global portfolio management experience and currently serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee.
His previous roles include director-level positions at Royal Trust in Barbados and Toronto. Scott is a member of CPA Canada, the CFA Institute, and the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants.
scott.elphinstone@fivecontinents.ky
Chief Investment Officer
Alessandro Sax
(CFA)
alessandro.sax@fivecontinents.ky
Alessandro serves as Chief Investment Officer and is responsible for overseeing investment strategy, portfolio construction, and ongoing risk management across client mandates.
A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, he brings institutional investment discipline and analytical rigour to the firm's discretionary portfolios.
Director, Wealth Management
Piers Davies
(BA, MSc)
piers.davies@fivecontinents.ky
Piers is Director of Wealth Management, working closely with private clients and families to deliver tailored investment solutions aligned with individual objectives and risk profiles.
He is involved in client relationship management, portfolio oversight, and long-term wealth stewardship.
Chairman (Non-Executive)
Benjamin Rodney
MBA
benjamin.rodney@fivecontinents.ky
Ben Rodney is a senior executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in real estate, capital markets, and financial services. Since 1997, he has served as President, CEO, and Managing Partner of RFA Capital, a private real estate investment asset management company. He has led the structuring, pricing, and due diligence of over $20 billion in Canadian commercial mortgages and real estate.
In September 2025, RFA Capital agreed to combine with Artis to form RFA Financial, a diversified financial services company. Upon close, the companies will combine to form RFA Financial with Ben serving as President and Chief Executive Officer. Ben, as President and CEO of RFA Financial, will oversee the operations of RFA Financial and its subsidiaries, RFA Bank of Canada, RFA Mortgage Corporation, RFA Asset Management, TM Investments, and Five Continents Financial Ltd.
In addition to his role at RFA, Ben has served as Chairman and Trustee of Nexus REIT since 2017 and as Chairman and Trustee of Artis Real Estate Investment Trust since 2021.
Mr. Rodney holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Victoria.
Director (non-executive)
Tom Simpson
B.A.Sc., M.B.A
tom.simpson@fivecontinents.ky
Tom has served as an independent director for over 35 years, bringing extensive experience across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Following a successful executive career on Bay Street, he transitioned in 2000 to focus on corporate directorships, where he has since built a distinguished governance career.
In 2006, Tom completed the Directors Education Program at the Rotman School of Management and earned his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, further strengthening his expertise in corporate governance and board leadership.
Tom holds both an Industrial Engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Toronto. He began his career in investment banking with Scotia McLeod, where he spent six years developing deep expertise in the securities industry. During this time, he was actively involved in equity and debt capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, structured products, and providing strategic financial advice across a broad range of industries.
His international experience includes over 27 years as a member of the Five Continents Board of Directors, where he has played a key role in shaping the firm’s strategic direction, including leading negotiations in transactions between Five Continents and Scotiabank.
Director, Accounting and Corporate Services
Alitsia Finlason
(CPA, CA)
alitsia.finlason@fivecontinents.ky
Alitsia oversees accounting, financial reporting, and corporate services for both clients and internal entities.
He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and provides technical and governance support across a range of fiduciary and corporate structures.
Senior Manager, Client Services
Nadine Rivers
nadine.rivers@fivecontinents.ky
Nadine leads client services delivery, working closely with clients, trustees, and internal teams to ensure efficient administration and a consistently high standard of service.
Investment Analyst
Stuart Reed
(FCCA, CFA)
stuart.reed@fivecontinents.ky
Stuart supports portfolio analysis, investment research, and reporting across client mandates. He is both a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Senior Administrator, Client Services
Alister Forsythe
(BSc)
alister.forsythe@fivecontinents.ky
Alister supports the administration and ongoing management of client structures and portfolios, with a focus on operational coordination and regulatory documentation.
