CEO & Chief Investment Officer

Julian Klymochko

Julian Klymochko is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer of Accelerate. A recognized leader in the alternative investment industry, Julian has built his career at the intersection of fintech innovation, entrepreneurship, and disciplined capital allocation.

With more than 15 years of experience managing hedge funds, private credit, and special situations investing, Julian is widely regarded as a pioneer in bringing institutional-caliber alternative strategies to a broader investor audience. At Accelerate, he oversees investment strategy, portfolio management, and the development of innovative investment solutions that seek to democratize access to pension-style asset allocation.

Julian is also a respected author, speaker, and podcast host. Through his writings, media commentary, and the Absolute Return Podcast, he provides investors with insight into global markets, merger arbitrage, private credit, and the evolving landscape of alternative assets. He has been featured in some of the world’s top financial and business media including Bloomberg, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, BNN, Business Insider, and The Globe and Mail.

Prior to founding Accelerate, Julian held roles at leading Canadian financial firms where he gained deep expertise in mergers & acquisitions, event-driven investing, and portfolio management. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and attended the University of Manitoba where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science (Engineering) and a Bachelors of Commerce (Finance), both with distinction. Julian is a member of the Board of Directors of the CFA Society Calgary.

Beyond investing, Julian is passionate about building Calgary’s financial community and mentoring the next generation of investors. He is a frequent guest on financial media, a sought-after speaker at industry events, and an advocate for investor education.

Board Member

Jai Hawker

Jai is the Executive Vice President of Accelerate. He has nearly 20 years of experience in capital markets including roles in corporate finance at RBC Dominion Securities, merchant capital at Enron Canada, equities research at Peters & Co, and 13 years at FirstEnergy Capital, most recently as a Director supervising their Private Client Division. He is the former VP Business Development at Ross Smith Asset Management. Jai attended the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Board Member

P.L. (Lonny) Tetley

Lonny Tetley is a Director and the Corporate Secretary of Accelerate. Currently, he is a partner at Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLP. Mr. Tetley serves on the Board of Certarus Ltd. and Beyond Energy Services & Technology Corp. He is also a member of the Private Funds Independent Review Committee of Deans Knight Capital Management Ltd.

Mr. Tetley attended the University of Calgary where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) and a Bachelor Of Laws (Gold Medalist). He is a Member of the Law Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association and the Calgary Bar Association.

Independent Director

Tom J. Simons

Mr. Simons is an independent businessman. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of TSX-listed CES Energy Solutions Corp. and its predecessor from 2006 to 2021.