JISRAK

  JISRAK is a Montreal based boutique research firm specialized in sourcing and due diligence across the alternative investments space. 

Dedicated primarily to ultra high net worth individuals and family offices, JISRAK operates as a fractional investment office (FIO) and can provide independent risk assessments, portfolio monitoring and liquidity review services.

Bechara Azar has 18+ years of Canadian and International experience in private banking and investment management. He is a tenured due diligence and risk expert focused on alternative investments including hedge funds, real estate, private equity/debt, and venture. 

Bechara has developed a deep network of 1000+ relationships across asset managers/GPs, allocators, and service providers. He collaborates with a network of trusted partners across multiple verticals including advisory, due diligence, asset allocation, portfolio construction and risk management.

Bechara completed HSBC's private banking analyst program and was part of HSBC's Alternatives Investment Group from 2007 to 2010. Prior to founding Jisrak, Bechara spent a decade at Innocap, a managed account platform servicing private banks, corporate and public pension plans.   

Bechara studied Electrical Engineering at the American University of Beirut and completed an MSc. at HEC Paris and Melbourne Business School. He also passed the CAIA, FRM and CIM exams and continued learning with the BlackRock Educational Academy and IMD (Mastering Board Governance).

Philippe Chalu is a Jisrak Research Partner and a global capital markets expert with over 20 years of experience at top tier institutions across London, Paris, Dubai and Riyadh.

He started his career on the derivatives desk of Barclays Capital covering the MENA region. He also worked afterwards in similar positions with HSBC and Société Générale. 

Philippe has a Masters in Management and Finance from HEC Paris and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from ESIB-St Joseph University in Lebanon.

Bechara Azar has advised, sourced differentiated investment opportunities, and conducted diligence on behalf of ultra high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. 

Philippe Chalu has advised family offices over the last 10 years in relation to their public and private investments, executing strategic and investment roadmaps across all asset classes.

Current areas of research focus include: innovations (healthcare, technology), energy transition, yield solutions, differentiated co-investments and orthogonal/defensive strategies.