Bridgetown, Barbados October 11, 2007 - FirstCaribbean International Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of four new directors to its Retail Banking business across the region. Richard Black, Robin Lewis, Annamaria DeGregory and Dawne Williams bring with them a wealth of regional retail banking experience to the unit.

Richard Black, Personal Lending Director

As Personal Lending Director, Richard will focus on the integration of the personal lending business - providing a common sales and service offering for both mortgage and consumer loan customers across the entire region.

Previously General Manager for branch operations within FirstCaribbean Retail Banking, Richard joined FirstCaribbean in 2003 from Shell Antilles and Guianas Ltd, where he was responsible for managing the commercial sales business across the Southern Caribbean.

Richard, a Jamaican, has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manchester, UK. Richard is currently among a senior executive cohort undergoing training under the MBA programme at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  He will be based at Warrens Head Office in Barbados.

Robin Lewis, Business Support Director

Robin joined FirstCaribbean in mid September, bringing with him an in-depth knowledge of retail banking.  His banking career, spanning over 25-years, began in 1980 with Scotiabank T&T, where he worked his way up through the ranks. More recently, he worked as Branch Manager Commercial and Retail Units.

In his new position as Business Support Director, Robin will support the Managing Director, Retail Banking with the management of the Retail Banking business across the entire region and will also be responsible for the leading the dynamic Head Office Support Team.

Robin, a Trinidadian, has a MBA (Major in Human Resource Management) from the University of Lincoln. And among his professional qualifications are a Certificate in Computer Applications and Business Management Studies both from the University of the West Indies.  Robin will be based at Warrens Head Office in Barbados.

Annamaria DeGregory, Retail Banking Director, The Bahamas

A seasoned retail professional, Annamaria joins the team as Retail Banking Director and will be responsible for The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. She will be based in The Bahamas.

Before joining FirstCaribbean, Annamaria held the position of Managing Director, RBC/Finco, in Nassau, The Bahamas. Her professional career includes work in mortgages, retail and commercial banking within Royal Bank of Canada.

Annamaria, a Bahamian, is an Associate to the Canadian Institute of Bankers and also holds a BSc. in Business Administration from Temple University, Philadelphia.

Dawne Williams, Retail Banking Director, Barbados

As Retail Banking Director, Barbados, Dawne will be responsible for Retail Banking in Barbados, Belize, Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dawne, whose appointment will take effect in October, has more than 30 years diverse banking experience. Her career began with Barclays Bank PLC St Kitts and Nevis in 1977 and she has served in a number of roles within the organisation, which has given her the opportunity work in most of the countries that FirstCaribbean operates. 

Among Dawne’s professional qualifications are a Certificate in Banking and a Diploma in Financial Services. She is also currently pursuing an MBA with the University of Leicester and is on the FirstCaribbean Executive Leadership Programme at The Wharton School.

The four new directors will report to Managing Director, Retail Banking, Rolf Philips, who noted: “These appointments are critical for us to build on the successes which we’ve had over the past five years. We’ve integrated the Personal Lending side of our Retail business, we’ve strengthened the support functions to allow our Sales teams to function at peak capacity. Our new organisational design and will strengthen our Retail presence across the region.”