About Us

Our Directors

Ross Beerman

Managing Director & Co-Founder

Ross Beerman has a BSc (Mech Eng) and an MBA from the University Of Cape Town (“UCT”). He has worked both locally and internationally in the finance and business sector. Ross worked in Corporate Finance for Legg Mason Wood Walker (a US investment bank) and came back to South Africa to join Theta Group Limited in 1998 as Finance Executive. He participated in the major corporate finance transactions that resulted in current form of African Bank Investments Limited (“ABIL”). In 2002, in conjunction with ABIL, he founded Theta Specialised Finance (Pty) Ltd which he exited at the end of 2003.

Paul Stanley

Operations Director & Co-Founder

Paul Stanley has a BSc (Mech Eng) and an MBA from UCT. He has worked both locally and internationally as a business consultant. He was Project Engineer for Caltex Oil Refinery, Milnerton, South Africa and, after completing his MBA, worked at McKinsey and Company for 6 years where he served a broad range of clients in the USA, Europe, as well as South Africa.

Dr Avron Urison

Medical Director & Co-Founder

Dr Avron Urison qualified as a Medical Doctor (MBBCH) at the University of the Witwatersrand has an MBA from UCT. He worked both locally and internationally in clinical practice, as well as in healthcare business consulting. Until 2002 he was CEO at MRI (Medical Rescue International) Criticare and thereafter has been consulting in the healthcare business environment in South Africa. His consulting has included a particular focus on HIV/AIDS clinical and management programmes.Top

Michael Dalby

Director

Michael Dalby has a BSc in Chemical Engineering from UCT. He has worked both within South Africa and abroad as a strategy consultant. He was a Process Industry Risk Specialist for International Risk Control Africa, South Africa, and subsequently worked at McKinsey and Company where he served a range of clients on issues spanning operations, commercial functions, organisational design, corporate finance and international business over a period of 6 years. Michael joined AllLife as Business Development Director in 2006.

Peter Backwell

Non-Executive Director

Peter Backwell qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte and was a partner in the Tax Division, specialising in corporate income tax. Having joined the Nedcor Group in 1991, and working initially in Management Services Division in the Tax Department, Pete moved to the banking side of the business in 1994. Previously head of Nedbank’s Corporate Banking Division, Pete was then appointed Managing Director of the Retail and Wealth Management business, responsible for the Nedbank, Old Mutual Bank, Pick 'n Pay Go Banking, the Wealth Management businesses and the insurance/assurance-related businesses. Pete joined Halls in September 2004 to take up the role of Executive Chairman. In August 2006 Pete stepped down as Executive Chairman, allowing him to focus his attention on developing the company’s recent investments in the financial services and pharmaceutical industries. Pete joined AllLife as a Non-Executive Director in 2007.Top

Gary Herbert

Non-Executive Director

Gary joined LeapFrog Investments in January 2008 as a Partner. LeapFrog Investments launched the world’s first microinsurance fund in 2009, and invests in businesses that provide insurance to low-income and vulnerable people in Africa and Asia. Gary currently serves as non-executive Vice-Chairman of a leading nonprofit social services organisation. An actuary by training, Gary co-founded Investment Solutions, South Africa's largest multi-manager with $18 billion under management. He was also Joint Managing Director of Alexander Forbes Financial Services, a major provider of financial and risk management services in South Africa and the UK, and was appointed to the Board of the Alexander Forbes Group. Gary joined AllLife as a Non-Executive Director in 2010.Top