Executive Management

Werner Gruner

FOUNDING PARTNER
Capitor Group

Chairman
Starlight Global

Werner Gruner was appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa in Nassau, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. In this capacity, Werner is committed to fostering strong diplomatic and economic relations between South Africa and The Bahamas.

Werner has extensive experience in the financial and healthcare industries. In 2019, he became CEO of Radioisotope Life Sciences (RLS), the second-largest nuclear medicine pharmacy network in the US, following a successful buyout from GE Healthcare. His leadership at RLS focused on driving growth, increasing profitability, and ensuring service reliability and compliance.

During the GE Healthcare nuclear medicine pharmacy network buyout in 2020, Werner also co-spearheaded the acquisition of the Swiss banking group SYZ’s Bahamas subsidiary, now known as Nexor, where he continues to serve as a Founding Partner.

Werner founded Capitor, an international boutique investment group, in 2017. As Chairman, he led the structuring of the GE Healthcare nuclear pharmacy network buyout and also connects investors to disruptive investment strategies that challenge outdated business models through cutting-edge technology and skilled teams.

Werner's contributions to the financial services industry in The Bahamas earned him the "Professional of the Year" award in 2012, presented by the Minister of Financial Services, the Honorable Ryan Pinder, and the Bahamas Financial Services Board.

Before his current roles, Werner served as Director at Julius Baer and worked with other international banks, including Credit Suisse, where he began his career in 2001 and earned a Certificate in Banking.

In 2012, he founded the Starlight Global Foundation, now Starlight Global, Inc., which is dedicated to empowering people by investing in education, culture, and economic autonomy. The Foundation has supported significant events and projects in both South Africa and The Bahamas.

Werner is fluent in English, German, and Afrikaans. He resides in Nassau with his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter, Grace. In his free time, he enjoys diving and piloting small aircraft.

Arno Verburg

DIRECTOR
Capitor Australia

Arno Verburg is an accomplished and results-oriented executive and entrepreneur with over 13 years of extensive leadership experience. He is an inexhaustible leader of major international transformation programs, corporate strategy and development across multiple organizations and industries.

Arno’s success has been achieved through leading the design of cutting edge complex technical programs through engaging and collaborating with industry experts, uncovering the unique challenges Arno has successfully founded and build multiple highly profitable organization. 

His ability to think laterally evolved from his early career as an engineer where he obtained the skills to work across multiple industries and globally awarded programs in Technology and Aerospace. 

He offers a broad range of subject matter expertise, including strategy development and execution, financial feasibility, risk quantification, product development, technology management and multiple delivery methodologies in various business environments.

Arno Verburg attained Chartered Manager status (CMgr), the highest international status that can be achieved by a manager or leader and is recognized by the Royal Charter in the United Kingdom. In 2019 Arno joined Harvard Business Review’s Advisory Council as an advisor where he provides insight to shape the content to develop and enrich the world of management and leadership.

Arno’s passion for the latest innovation and disruptive technologies has led him to pursue engineering and business where he graduated from the University of South Africa. He later completed Harvard Business School’s prestigious leadership program, where he specialized in Global Business/Trade and Commerce (EMBA). Most recently, he completed the MIT Sloan School of Management Executive education program in Technology, Operations and Value Chain Management. 

He is a certified project management professional (PMP) and the Associate Director at Western Australia’s Project Management Institute.

Arno currently resides in Australia with his wife of more than 15 years, Cecile. He is avid mountain biker, and they continually seek new adventures internationally. His charitable interest centres primarily on international humanitarian efforts that benefit impoverished children around the world, to better their lives and provide education. 

David Sztajnic

EXternal ADVISOR
Capitor Group

David Sztajnic is a graduate of Pierre and Marie Curie University, where he specialized in science and mathematics, and the National Institute of Gemology. With over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry, David has spent more than a decade advising international groups on commodities such as gold, agro-food, and oil. He is renowned for his expertise in optimizing workflows and operations in production tools and mining.

In addition to his professional pursuits, David is a certified Krav Maga instructor and a 2nd-degree black belt. He is also an avid diver, embodying a dynamic and disciplined approach both in and out of his professional life.

Splitting his time between France, Angola, and India, David is fluent in French, English, and Portuguese, bringing a global perspective and hands-on expertise to every project he undertakes.

Daniel-Marc Brunner

FOUNDING PARTNER
Capitor Bahamas & Panama

Daniel-Marc Brunner brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the financial industry, having held various key roles in Switzerland and overseas. His journey in finance began with a solid foundation, including a commercial apprenticeship at UBS Lucerne and specialized training in international assignments with the INAT team at UBS Zurich. Early in his career, he excelled in Investment Banking at Warburg Dillon Read, leading a team focused on OTC Derivative product calculations.

Transitioning to Private Banking, Daniel worked with a diverse clientele, particularly from Latin America, during his long-term assignments in the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas with UBS and Credit Suisse. In 2013, he embraced a new challenge as Head of Private Banking at Andbank in The Bahamas, where he eventually ascended to the role of CEO. His leadership skills and strategic vision led him to become the CEO of the Bahamas subsidiary of Banque SYZ, based in Geneva.

Under Daniel's guidance, the Bahamas subsidiary underwent a successful buyout and was transformed into Nexor, where he currently serves as CEO and Managing Partner. His tenure at Nexor has been marked by a relentless focus on delivering white-glove, tailored services to clients while nurturing multigenerational relationships with them and their successors.

As a Swiss national based in Nassau, Daniel is fluent in German, English, French, and Spanish, enabling seamless communication with clients from diverse backgrounds. His unwavering commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has solidified his reputation as a trusted leader in the financial services industry.

Zanele Calitz

MAnaging Partner
Capitor South Africa

Zanele Calitz, a dedicated financial advisor, has been making a significant impact in the industry since 2016. With a passion for financial planning, Zanele founded her own financial services provider in 2018, Indigo Brokers, laying the foundation for a successful career in the field.

Holding a level 6 advanced diploma in financial planning and actively pursuing CFP recognition, Zanele is committed to continually enhancing her expertise.

Having served as an outsourced Key Individual for other FSPs, Zanele possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in the financial sector. In this role, she not only provided strategic oversight but also assisted two companies with their license applications at the FSCA. Currently, Zanele holds the esteemed positions of Partner Partner for Capitor (South Africa).

Through these roles, Zanele plays a pivotal part in shaping the financial landscape across multiple regions, driving growth and success for these organizations.

In addition to her accomplishments in financial planning, Zanele has a notable history of starting and successfully selling businesses. Her first venture, La Maison Sitters, was launched while she was still in university and focused on tutoring, babysitting, pet sitting, and au pairing. She sold this business profitably within two years.

Her second enterprise, Luxxe SA, involved importing wedding dresses and shoes, and she also sold this business at a profit after just one year.
With a keen eye for strategic entrepreneurial leadership and a deep understanding of financial markets, Zanele continues to make a lasting impact on the industry, providing valuable insights and guidance.

Ryno Venter

DIRECTOR
Capitor Trustees

Mr. Ryno Venter serves as a director at Capitor Trustees, bringing over a decade of strategic experience across diverse market sectors including finance, banking, fiduciary and legal services, property management, entertainment, and hospitality.

After completing his secondary education at Paul Roos Gymnasium with five distinctions, Mr. Venter earned his BA Law degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 2003. He then pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, which led to his certification as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa (FPI®).

Mr. Venter is a highly regarded associate of the Fiduciary Institute of South Africa (FISA®), holding titles as Senior Trust Administrator, Senior Will Drafter, Senior Financial Planner, and Senior Estate Planner. He also chairs the Western Cape Committee of FISA® and serves on the National Council. Additionally, he holds the designation of Fiduciary Professional South Africa (FPSA®).

Beyond his financial planning credentials, Mr. Venter is a registered General Tax Practitioner South Africa (GTP(SA)™) with the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT) and is a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA).