(Photo above, left to right) Kurt Kisto, Executive Director (Caribbean), IADB, Sharon Christopher, Deputy CEO, First Citizens Bank, Norman Christie, Regional President, BPTT and Joe Esau, Chairman Agostini's Ltd.
Left to Right: Sharon Christopher, Deputy CEO, First Citizens on a panel with Norman Christie, Regional President BPTT, and Joe Esau, Chairman, Agostini's Ltd.
Kurt Kisto, Executive Director (Caribbean), IADB speaks with Norman Christie, Regional President, BPTT (left).
Roger Hamel-Smith, Director, Beacon Insurance Company and Chairman of the T&T Corporate Governance Code Working Group.
Axel Kravatzky, Chairman, CCGI in his welcome remarks.
Left to Right: Dwayne Rodriguez-Seijas, Director, PwC with Marlon Yarde, CEO, Barbados Stock Exchange and Alex Kjorven, CEO, CCGI
Left to Right: Joe Esau, Chairman, Agostini's Ltd with Ronald Harford, Chairman, Republic Bank Ltd.
Alex Kjorven, CEO CCGI speaks with Senator Anthony Viera, Independent Senator and Partner, Mair & Company (left) and Ian Macintyre, Chief Parliamentary Counsel (right).
Cocktails following formal presentations.
The Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI) celebrated its formal launch on 3 October 2013 from 5.00pm – 8.00pm at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Proudly sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers the Launch event attracted interest from the business community and included distinguished guests such as:
- Senator the Honourable Anthony Viera, Independent Senator
- Mr. Kenneth Gordon, Chairman, Integrity Commission of Trinidad & Tobago
- Mr. Ronald Harord, Chairman, Republic Bank Limited
- Justice Sebastien Ventour, Deputy Chairman, Integrity Commission of Trinidad & Tobago
- Ms. Michelle Cross-Fenty, Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank
- Dr. Thackwray Driver, Chief Executive Officer, The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago
- Mr. Ian Macintyre, Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General
- Ms. Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, Solicitor General, Ministry of the Attorney General
- Ms. Catherine Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce
- Mr. Wainwright Iton, Chief Executive Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange
Ms. Alex Kjorven, CEO of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute, in her opening speech reaffirmed that the "launch event marks only the beginning. We hope to see the brainpower and influence present here this evening be emboldened and synchronized towards achieving tangible improvements in the way organizations and markets perform".
Featured speakers at the evening included acclaimed business professionals, namely:
- Ms. Sharon Christopher, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, First Citizens Bank Limited
- Mr. Norman Christie, Regional President, BP Trinidad & Tobago
- Mr. Joe Esau, Chairman of Agostini's Limited and the CCN Limited
- Mr. Kurt Kisto, Executive Director (Caribbean Constituency), Inter-American Development Bank (moderator)
Ms. Sharon Christopher painted a very compelling picture of the role of Corporate Governance in the evolution of First Citizens Bank over the past few decades, emphasizing their commitment to board education and the importance of company-wide training and re-training on codes of conduct and other best practices. Mr. Norman Christie shared a palpable lesson he learned from past experience with regards to identifying weaknesses in governance and implementing improvements. He spoke very poignantly about BPTT's role in shaping the corporate governance landscape in the region through a balance of leading by example, providing encouragement and incentive. Mr. Joseph Esau spoke candidly on the toxic patterns of cronyism he has witnessed over the years and provided indisputable evidence in favor of gender diversity on all boards.
Other speakers included Dr. Axel Kravatzky, Chairman, Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute and Mr. Marlon Yarde, Chief Executive Officer, Barbados Stock Exchange.
During the event, it was announced that First Citizens Bank would become the Institute's very first Founding Sponsor. Providing a financial backbone to support operations, Founding Sponsors share the same ideals towards effective governance and will become the Institute's allies in promoting corporate governance in the region.
The evening ended with a networking session where guests were treated to a cocktail reception.
