The BDA is a Bermuda registered company limited by guarantee pursuant to the Bermuda Companies Act 1981.
Our Purpose
To promote and protect, in collaboration with Government and the Private Sector, sustainable and equitable economic growth and prosperity in Bermuda.
Our Vision
To be an energetic, committed, and sustainable resource for Bermuda locally and internationally.
Our Mission
In service of our Vision and Purpose, to facilitate and lead efforts to promote Bermuda, and consistently deliver outstanding value to our stakeholders.
As CEO, Mr. Hart is responsible for providing energetic and collaborative leadership to drive results withrespect to the BDA’s mission of growing Bermuda’s economy by attracting investment and employment in targeted sectors. In this role Mr. Hart will also promote sustainable, equitable prosperity and economic growth for Bermuda, in furtherance of the BDA’s vision.
Mr. Hart joined the BDA in October 2021, having previously served as Executive Vice President at the Florida Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), one of the largest and most successful business advocacy organisations in the United States. Since joining the Chamber in July 2010, Mr. Hart was part of the leadership team responsible for consistently enhancing the environment to increase job growth, diversify the economy and attract additional capital investments, resulting in Florida creating one of every 11 jobs in the United States, attracting $1.19 million in capital every hour, and recently becoming ranked as the fifteenth largest economy in the world. During this time Mr. Hart also participated in delegations to 13 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East with leaders in government and industry in order to secure additional foreign direct investment and economic growth.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Hart has held leadership positions in public service at the federal level in Washington, D.C. and state level in Florida. He has also been part of dynamic and growth-oriented leadership teams in the private sector and association management.
Mr. Hart is a graduate of Emory University with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science and Florida State University with a M.A. in International Relations.
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ms. Burgess manages the BDA’s processes, policies, and procedures to ensure the organisation achieves its strategic objectives. Working closely with the CEO and board to drive strategic priorities, aligning them with the organisation’s vision, Ms. Burgess also ensures the delivery of the BDA’s core mission through the creation, enhancement, and review of operational systems and frameworks while maintaining a focus on capital, resources, and efficiency.
In her previous role as CEO of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Burgess focused on economic development, public policy, and fiscal responsibility and was instrumental in driving legislative changes that positively impacted various industries.
Over 25 years, Ms. Burgess has gained valuable insights across a diverse range of sectors, including Financial Services, Hospitality, and Healthcare. A lifelong volunteer, Ms Burgess has a keen interest in women’s, socioeconomic and the environmental issues.
Kyle provides high-level assistance to the BDA’s Business Development Managers with special projects and business development initiatives. He works to engage and inspire the proactive involvement of focus groups and the business community writ large in order to generate new ideas, identify growth opportunities, and enhance product development.
Kyle joined the BDA in 2018 with experience in banking, specializing in operations, sales, and product management in the retail, trust, and private client sectors. Previously, he spent 10 years at HSBC in retail and operations. He also worked at Clarien Bank in the private client and trust business and at Butterfield Bank where he managed an operations team.
Korrin develops and implements innovative and proactive strategies to attract businesses to physically locate to Bermuda and also encourages greater investment in Bermuda companies and products. He works with a variety of stakeholders to understand their personal and professional goals and leverages Bermuda’s unique value proposition to present Bermuda as an ideal place to live and do business.
Previously, Korrin acted as the senior coordinator for the technology sector at the BDA and served as the first point of contact for fintech companies considering working in Bermuda. Prior to joining the BDA, he worked at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce as a marketing and community outreach coordinator, where he worked closely with the membership across a range of activities including events, newsletters, press releases, and surveys. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management. He has completed fintech and blockchain technology courses at the Said Business School at the University of Oxford.
Olivia develops and implements innovative and proactive strategies to identify prospective businesses across targeted sectors and various regions to create a continuous pipeline of prospective new business opportunities for Bermuda. She works directly with stakeholders to present Bermuda’s value proposition and inform them of the many advantages to living and doing business in Bermuda.
Prior to joining the BDA, Olivia was responsible for assisting seven professional advisors in a Bermuda-based independent financial planning company. Having spent over eight years providing high-level administrative and customer service support, she brings valuable experience and knowledge to her role to expertly manage domestic and international client requests.
Nicole is an accomplished advertising, marketing and multi-media professional with over 20 years’ international experience working in Bermuda, Canada and the UK. She has extensive knowledge of producing events from live television broadcasts, corporate events to national advertising campaigns.
Nicole oversees all conferences and events for the BDA, raising the profile of each industry sector and providing creative input, as well as ensuring top-quality representation on behalf of the jurisdiction. She is responsible for driving the Bermuda Executive Forums, held in key international markets including New York, London, Toronto and Miami, and manages all on-island events hosted by the BDA including Bermuda Tech Week.
Sophie assists with the successful execution of all Conferences and Events (C&E) either organised by or attended on behalf of the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA). Sophie’s keen attention to detail ensures events are thoroughly planned and meet the needs of the BDA, as well as other attendees.
Sophie re-joined the organisation in January 2022, having previously worked as the BDA’s C&E Manager from 2014-2020. Most recently, Sophie worked at Appleby, a global law firm, as a Marketing Communications Executive where she was responsible for assisting with marketing initiatives and event management.
Her passion for delivering quality service led Sophie to hold a Marketing & Events Manager position at The Pristine Group, and a Marketing & Events Coordinator position at Capital G Bank. Sophie graduated from the University of East London with an Honour’s Degree in Event Management.
Stuart joined the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) in May 2021. As Director of Marketing and Communications, Stuart manages the Marketing and Communications department and produces internal and external communications on behalf of the BDA, which includes written content for strategic jurisdictional advocacy initiatives. Stuart also supports all promotional efforts and events produced by the BDA.
Stuart has worked in Bermuda for over 19 years, including 10 years at Bermuda’s integrated financial services regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), where his most recent role was Assistant Director, Communications. Stuart has also worked in the marketing and communications department of Butterfield Bank and is a former journalist, having worked at The Royal Gazette. Stuart is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK.
Valarie oversees all accounting functions for the BDA and works to ensure that senior leadership is well informed to make financial decisions for the organisation.
Valarie joined the BDA in November 2019. Previously, she worked with The Argus Group for over five years as a treasury analyst in their finance operations team. She also worked with several multi-national companies, including RUBiS /Shell for 17 years, in addition to both Mobil and Exxon before their merger. Valarie holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Accounting from Delaware State University, U.S.
Maliha is responsible for the management of day-to-day activities at the BDA. She is the first point of contact for all visitors and provides support across the organisation. Prior to joining the BDA, Maliha worked as a Guest Services Agent at one of Bermuda’s leading hotel resorts, where she was recognised as Employee of the Year for 2019. Maliha is a Certified Nursing Assistant and brings a high-level of care and attention to every aspect of her role.
The Board of Directors is made up of industry leaders and experts who are passionate about the continued development of Bermuda as a blue-chip jurisdiction and volunteer their time and efforts to support the BDA’s mission.
Michael Hanson
BDA Chair
Michael Hanson
BDA Chair
Michael Hanson is the managing partner of Carey Olsen Bermuda and sits on the executive board of the Carey Olsen Group, one of the largest offshore law firms (with offices in Singapore, Jersey, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Cape town, BVI, Cayman Islands and London). Michael established the Bermuda office just over three years ago and has overseen its rapid growth. Prior to establishing Carey Olsen Bermuda in 2017, Michael was partner and head of the employment and immigration team at another offshore law firm in Bermuda after practicing law in the UK for almost 10 years. He has significant expertise in multijurisdictional crisis management, corporate, employment and regulatory investigations, complex executive disputes and executive benefit and incentive programs.
Susan Pateras
BDA Deputy Chair
Susan Pateras
BDA Deputy Chair
Susan Pateras joined the BDA board in 2020 bringing more than two decades of insurance industry experience across London, New York, and the Bermuda marketplace. Previously, Susan was COO of Liberty Specialty Markets (Bermuda) and has worked as a Senior Vice President at Integro Bermuda Ltd. and Willis Bermuda Ltd., and was Vice President for Marsh New York’s Global Broking Healthcare Unit. She holds a BBA from Temple University, with a dual major in Risk Management Insurance and Business Law, and serves on the board of The Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC) and Bermuda Overseas Missions, a non-profit providing Bermuda’s youth with an opportunity to make a positive impact both locally and globally.
Raymond Jones
Raymond Jones
As Director of the Economic Development Department (EDD), Raymond Jones leads a team of public officers responsible for advancing the sustainable growth, development and diversification of Bermuda’s Economy.Prior to this appointment, Mr. Jones was Finance Director for seven years at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).
As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Mr. Jones has also held several positions in the private sector, including Chief Financial Officer at the HWP Group of Companies, as well as Assistant Vice President, Bank Officer, and Supervisor of Accounting Evaluation positions in the Corporate Trust Division at the Bank of Bermuda.
Stuart Lacey
Stuart Lacey
Stuart Lacey joined the BDA board in December 2022. Stuart is the current CEO of Summit Junto, a global community of innovators, leaders, change makers and visionaries bound through carefully curated forums and advisory boards to maximise impact and positive change. Prior to this, Stuart spent over 20 years founding multiple class-leading businesses, where he applied his leadership experience in the C-Suite of global financial and technology markets, developing a keen eye for identifying talent, growing successful teams, and harnessing technology to create innovative, global solutions. Most recently, Stuart has also co-founded the Bermuda Clarity Institute, a premier executive leadership, management consultancy and experiential training institute in Bermuda that drives performance by providing organisational clarity.
Grainne Richmond
Grainne Richmond
Grainne Richmond joined the BDA board in June 2023. Mrs. Richmond joined Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd. in September 2022 as Executive Vice President, Head of Captives, and is responsible for overseeing client service deliverable across all of Aon Bermuda’s captives and participating in new business innovations and client development plans. Prior to joining Aon, she was Vice President of Strategic Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Limited (SRS) (formally Dyna Management Services Ltd.)
Mrs. Richmond, by background is a qualified CPA (FCA Ireland) and has over 22 years of Captive experience having held senior roles at SRS, Artex Risk Solutions, and International Advisory Services. She has over 21 years’ experience and extensive background in large complex group captives, healthcare captives along with over 10 years in fund administration.
Ms. Richmond is heavily involved in the Bermuda Industry and is currently Director of the Bermuda Captive Network and past president of the President of Bermuda Insurance Management Association. On behalf of Aon and the Bermuda Captive Industry she works closely with industry peers in discussions with the Bermuda Monetary Authority, Registrar of Companies, and the Bermuda Government.
Marc Telemaque
Marc Telemaque
Marc Telemaque was sworn in as Secretary to the Cabinet in 2018, a position he served previously from 2006-2010. He has been a member of the Civil Service Executive for more than seventeen years. During that time, Mr. Telemaque has served as Secretary for National Security and Permanent Secretary with the Ministries of Tourism & Transport, Public Safety & Housing and Health. He joined the Public Service as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor in 2000 and was awarded the LVO [Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order] in 2009.
George Thomas
George Thomas
George Thomas brings over 30 years of experience in investment banking, institutional capital market structure, asset management, financial technology, commercial banking, and internal audit at a broad range of financial services firms in Bermuda, North America, Asia and Europe. Currently, George is the Chief Operating Officer of XB Market Ventures, a global fintech firm, headquartered in Bermuda, that develops digital asset market infrastructure and provides strategic advisory services. Since 2007, he has served on alternative asset management boards for Omni Partners, a global multi-strategy investment management firm based in London. He also serves as Vice Chairman for Waterstart Ltd, a Bermuda Registered Charity focused on professional development for Bermudians and promoting environmental awareness, and is a board member for FlexPaths, a certified women-owned business that has been driving workplace mobility, diversity and innovation since 2005. George is a guest lecturer at Harvard Law School on cybersecurity disclosure considerations for public companies.
Greg Wojciechowski
Greg Wojciechowski
Greg has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) for the past 15 years. Under his leadership, the BSX has driven the development of Bermuda’s domestic capital market and attracted global capital market support, particularly in the insurance-linked securities and cat-bond sector. The BSX has also garnered numerous international endorsements, recognised by the US Securities Exchange Commission, Canada’s Ministry of Finance, the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange, and the UK government’s HM Revenue and Customs, among other bodies.
Wojciechowski previously served as the BSX’s Chief Operating Officer, and prior to joining the Exchange held management positions at several US brokerage firms. He was educated in the US, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wojciechowski also serves as Chairman of Bermuda’s Financial Intelligence Agency and ILS Bermuda Ltd, and sits on the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).
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