Meet The Founders
BRAD STEHLE
- Before co-founding Illume Partners LLC, Brad served as Managing Director, Head of Operational Due Diligence for StepStone Group Inc. During his tenure, he led a successful team in overseeing 1,400 asset managers which equated to over 3,000 funds across the Private and Liquid markets.
- Drawing on over two decades of experience in the finance and investment sector, including other roles at Shadmoor Advisors, Unigestion SA, and Citigroup, Brad's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for driving positive change have culminated in the establishment of Illume Partners LLC. With a vision to redefine the standards of operational due diligence and set new benchmarks for excellence, Brad's latest endeavor represents the culmination of a lifelong dedication to his craft.
- Brad holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Seton Hall University.
JOHN WARD
- Prior to co-founding Illume, John served as a managing director and head of the operational due diligence practice at Kroll, LLC specializing in evaluating operational risks across hedge funds, private funds, crypto funds, real estate, and direct investments. John’s clients included sovereign funds, endowments, foundations, pension plans, family offices, and HNW investors.
- John previously was Head of ODD for Gottex Fund Management and EIM Investment Management overseeing a variety of investment initiatives.
- John holds a B.A. in finance and marketing from the University of Florida and is a Certified Due Diligence Analyst (CDDA). John is a Board Member of the IMDDA and has conducted lectures on performing due diligence globally to family offices, state pension plans, sovereign funds, and regulatory organizations. John has also testified as an expert witness for operational due diligence matters.
PAUL ROTH
- Paul Roth's career embodies dedication and innovation in operational due diligence. As a co-founder of Illume Partners LLC, he continues to shape due diligence practices, leveraging his expertise to guide investors and institutions towards informed decisions.
- Before co-founding Illume, Paul was with Texas Permanent School Fund as Senior Director of Operational Due Diligence. Prior to joining TPSF, he formed TBV Advisors, providing risk management services to the Delaware Public Employee's Retirement System. Paul's expertise also includes leading operational due diligence at Analytical Research USA Inc. and KBC Financial Products. Before that he was in Capital Markets Credit Risk divisions of Citigroup, Bear Stearns, and Nat West Financial Markets. Prior to that, he was a credit officer of National Australia Bank. He began his career with Dresdner Bank.
- Paul is a Certified Due Diligence Analyst, is a registered CFA, and holds CAIA and RIMS-CRMP designations. He earned an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA from Northwestern University.