Michael (age 38) completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Natal, following which he undertook a post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics, obtaining a Masters degree in Accounting & Finance. He started his career with Fleming Martin Stockbrokers in the United Kingdom as an assistant to the sales trading desk, before being transferred to their Johannesburg office to undertake economic research on the local economy. In 1997 he joined Swiss Re (South Africa), later renamed Swiss Re Asset Management, as part of their global equity research team, to assume responsibility for the management of their equity portfolios in Southern Africa (totaling, at its peak, in excess of R3 billion.) Cross-skilling also ensured that he gained valuable experience in the fixed income and money markets. He moved to the Harvard House Group in 2004 after an organizational restructuring resulted in the local operations of Swiss Re Asset Management being moved to Switzerland. He has 11 years of experience in the asset management industry.

Willie Pelser (age 43) grew up in Frankfort in the Free State. After matriculating he obtained an M.Com Econometrics degree from the former Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg. Willie started his career in 1991 as an economist with the Transnet Group. He joined the Industrial Development Corporation in 1994 with responsibity for macro economic planning and forecasting. After a short stint with BOE NatWest Securities, where he was responsible for Fixed Income research and strategy, Willie joined Swiss Re Asset Management in 1997. He formed part of the global fixed income team responsible for the management of the fixed income and money market portfolios (R2.5 billion) for the Southern Africa region and assisted in the equity process. Willie also managed portfolios for third party clients of Swiss Re. After the amalgamation of Swiss Re Asset Management's fund management activities in Zurich and New York, Willie consulted to Harvard House Investment Management and other financial institutions. He joined Real Africa Asset Management in 2005, assisting in the management of fixed income and equity portfolios. In 2006, Willie joined Harvard House Investment Management. He has 16 years of experience in the asset management industry.