First Citizens Group Financial Holdings Limited – Board of Directors

Mr Shankar Bidaisee is an attorney-at-law of eighteen (18) years’ admission to the Bar in Trinidad and Tobago and is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, an LLB Bachelor of Laws from the University of London, Master of Laws in Corporate & Commercial Law (UWI).

Throughout his career, Mr Bidaisee has demonstrated a deep commitment to legal practice, profession and corporate leadership. He began his professional journey as a Secondary School teacher before transitioning to the legal profession in which he now specialises in commercial and insurance litigation and real property litigation over the past eighteen (18) years. His legal expertise also extends to public service, having, inter alia, served as Counsel to the Commission of Enquiry into the conduct of several financial institutions including CLICO, Clico Investment Bank, Hindu Credit Union and others.

In addition to his legal career, Mr Bidaisee has played key roles in State Boards and other Statutory Bodies. He served as a Director at Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad & Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT), where he managed key national projects. He also served as a Member of Council of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago for approximately sixteen (16) years where he also held executive positions and as a Member of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago under the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago.

Professor of Practice Dr Sterling K Frost, O.R.T.T., DBA, MBA, FCG, Acc. Dir. is an accomplished leader in banking, governance, human resources and academia with more than four decades of international experience across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. His distinguished career combines strategic vision, operational excellence and deep board level governance expertise in highly regulated, multijurisdictional and multisectoral environments spanning banking, energy, manufacturing, education, philanthropy and the public sector.

Dr Frost previously served as Director of Human Resources for Citibank Latin America where he had oversight of 25,000 employees serving 1.2 million clients across 14 countries. This role deepened his experience in managing large scale, multinational and multicultural operations within a highly competitive and regulated financial services environment. He later joined First Citizens where he served as Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Operations and Administration, with executive oversight of legal, compliance and governance, technology, human capital, brand and marketing, operations and shared services and strategic planning. He concluded this executive role in December 2023 upon reaching the normal retirement age, marking the close of a remarkable chapter in corporate leadership.

He holds the role of Deputy Chairman across several entities within the First Citizens Group, including First Citizens Holdings Limited, First Citizens Group Financial Holdings Limited, First Citizens Bank Limited, First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited, First Citizens Depository Services Limited, First Citizens Trustee Services Limited, First Citizens Investment Services Limited, First Citizens Portfolio & Investment Management Services Limited and First Citizens Brokerage & Advisory Services Limited. He is also Vice President of First Citizens Costa Rica S A. He previously served on the boards of Citibank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, Banco Citibank Honduras, Cititarjetas de Nicaragua, Banco Citibank Panama and First Citizens Investment Services (Barbados) Limited.

Dr Frost has held directorships in the energy and manufacturing sectors including with St Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Angostura Holdings Limited, Angostura Limited and Trinidad Distillers Limited. In the public sector he served as Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission and continues to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Statutory Authorities Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago. He also served as an Assessor at the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago.

He was the founding Chairman of both the First Citizens Foundation and the Angostura Foundation, playing a pivotal role in shaping their philanthropic missions and currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the First Citizens Foundation. Dr Frost also serves as President and Chairman of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada where he previously contributed to several board committees including the Audit and Risk Committee, the Examination Assessment Review Panel and the Governance and Admissions Committee. He currently chairs the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) a leading NGO in Trinidad and Tobago.

In higher education, Dr Frost contributes extensively to The University of the West Indies (UWI), previously serving as a Director of the UWI Mona School of Business and Management. He currently serves as Professor of Practice in Management Studies and chairs several UWI boards including the UWI Development and Endowment Fund Board, the UWI Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development Advisory Board, the UWI Faculty of Social Sciences Advisory Board and the UWI Institute for Gender and Development Studies Advisory Board.

He also represents Costa Rica in the diplomatic sphere as Honorary Consul to Trinidad and Tobago supporting bilateral cooperation and the advancement of national interests.

Dr Frost has lectured at The University of the West Indies for over 23 years as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer teaching across undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education programmes. He has designed and delivered more than 25 management courses and seminars and is the author of the landmark publication Calibrating Organizational Culture: A Dialectical Model Towards Competitive Advantage, which synthesises decades of leadership experience into a framework for aligning culture, knowledge sharing and performance.

He holds both a Master’s and a Doctorate in Business Administration from The University of the West Indies and maintains professional designations as an Accredited Director and Chartered Secretary from the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. He is also a certified Executive Coach by the University of California, Berkeley and a certified Change Practitioner by Prosci.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the fields of banking, education and community service, Dr Frost was awarded the nation’s highest honour, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (O.R.T.T.). He is also the first individual in the history of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Trinidad and Tobago to receive the Distinguished Fellowship Award for advancing the theory and practice of banking and finance. His achievements in human capital development have been recognised with the Maxine Barnett Award for HR Excellence from the Human Resource Management Association of Trinidad and Tobago. He is also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus having been named one of 50 Inaugural Distinguished Alumni as part of UWI’s 50th Anniversary celebrations selected from a pool of 25,000 graduates that includes Prime Ministers, business leaders, judges and leading educators. This award recognises individuals who exemplify worldclass performance, innovation, critical thinking, societal advancement and a lifelong commitment to learning.

Ms Nichelle Granderson is a Strategy and Human Resources expert with over two decades of experience operating in markets throughout the Caribbean Region. She is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of a leading regional consulting firm specialising in Executive Training in Strategic Planning as well as the design of Business Transformation Solutions geared towards effective Strategy and Human Resources Management. It is noteworthy that her firm is a Global Technical Partner of the Balanced Scorecard Institute, part of the Strategy Management Group based in the United States.

Ms Granderson currently holds an Executive Human Resources Leadership Role at a large State Agency and also serves as an Adjunct Consultant at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business. In her career, she has worked with Multinational Organisations advising Boards, Regional Group and Country CEOs, while leading high-performing teams across diverse industries including Banking & Finance, Telecommunications, Retail, Technology, Manufacturing & Distribution, Academia, Food & Beverage, and CARICOM Development.

Ms Granderson is certified by the Balanced Scorecard Institute and the George Washington University College of Professional Studies™ as a: Balanced Scorecard Strategic Planning Professional; Key Performance Indicators Professional and Objectives & Key Results Professional.

She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the Anglia Ruskin University, complemented by international and local professional certifications in: Saville™ Wave Psychometric Assessment; Hult University™ Organisation Design; Competency Framework Development and Industrial Relations Management.

Ms Sandy Roopchand serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Castle Limited. In her capacity as CEO, she brings over twenty (20) years of leadership experience, with a proven track record in the management of Finance, Sales and Operations within the fast food sector. Throughout her illustrious career, she has demonstrated exceptional expertise in guiding the organisation to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and financial stability.

Since assuming executive leadership, Ms Roopchand has overseen the successful expansion of the organisation with the addition of twenty-five (25) new locations, thus strengthening the Company’s presence in the market. This growth undoubtedly reflects her strategic vision, strong financial stewardship and ability to align operations with long-term business goals.

As an impactful and effective leader, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to collaborate effectively with global stakeholders in the quick-service restaurant industry. Her strategic vision, combined with strong and insightful leadership, has positioned Royal Castle Limited as an industry leader.

A qualified Accountant since 2002, Ms Roopchand possesses extensive knowledge and experience in Auditing, Financial Reporting, Analysis, Forecasting and Project Management. She combines this financial expertise with practical operational management, ensuring that business decisions are both data-driven and strategically sound.

In addition to her professional qualifications, Ms Roopchand holds a Certificate and Master Certificate in Food Service Management from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, underscoring a deep commitment to continuous professional development and industry best practices.

Beyond corporate leadership, Ms Roopchand is committed to philanthropic and community building initiatives. She actively supports initiatives that advance education, empower youth, and strengthen local communities, reflecting a belief that successful organisations must contribute meaningfully to the wider society.

Known for her results-oriented leadership style and commitment to excellence, Ms Roopchand continues to drive the organisation towards innovation, operational efficiency and sustained growth while shaping the future of the fast-food industry.

Ms Crystelle Smith is a seasoned human resources and talent strategy leader with over two decades of experience in banking, finance, and professional services across the Caribbean. She has consistently demonstrated the ability to align people strategies with business objectives, driving organisational resilience, strengthening governance, and cultivating robust talent pipelines.

Crystelle began her career in frontline banking operations before transitioning into human resources, where she led regional initiatives in benefits administration, workforce planning, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions. She later advanced within the global professional services sector, partnering with senior leadership to design and implement innovative learning and development strategies that enhanced employee capabilities and organisational performance.

In addition to her professional expertise, Crystelle has a long-standing personal commitment to education. For more than 15 years, she has tutored Spanish to students and professionals of all ages, fostering both language proficiency and cultural confidence. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she brings agility in navigating multicultural environments and building meaningful connections across diverse groups.

Crystelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Minor in Human Resource Management from The University of the West Indies and has pursued advanced studies in project management and marketing through Heriot-Watt University’s MBA programme. She is also certified in Lean Six Sigma, public speaking, and facilitation excellence.

Recognised as a collaborative leader and trusted advisor, Crystelle has worked closely with C-suite executives, regulators, and international professional bodies to shape workforce strategies that align with organisational goals. As a member of the Board of Directors, she contributes expertise in HR strategy, governance, and talent development, supporting the bank’s sustained growth, resilience, and long-term stakeholder value.

Peter Williams has held senior executive leadership in the electric utility business for over 40 years, including Senior Vice President of Emera (Caribbean) Incorporated (ECI) and Managing Director of The Barbados Light & Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of ECI.  Up until his retirement at the end of 2020, Peter also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC), St. Lucia Electricity Services (LUCELEC), and was Past Chairman of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), an association of energy solution providers and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean.

Peter holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester University (UK), an MSc (Electrical Power Systems) from The University of the West Indies and an MBA from The Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Canada.  He is a Past President of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE), a lifetime Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (USA), and a former Member of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK).  Peter was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, on the occasion of its 50^th Anniversary in 2010.  In November 2023 he was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership of CARILEC.

Peter is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Barbados, a director of the Substance Abuse Foundation, and is the founder of Suzuki Strings Academy whose aim is to promote talent education for very young children, based on the method developed by a Japanese violinist, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.

Jon Martineau is a veteran hospitality executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience across the Caribbean and the United States. His career spans senior management roles with esteemed brands including the Elegant Group of Hotels, Hilton Barbados, and Marriott International. His last position was as General Manager of the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa in Barbados.

Renowned for his strategic leadership and operational acumen, Jon has successfully repositioned hotel properties, enhanced service delivery, and driven sustained financial growth throughout his career.

He has contributed extensively to the region’s tourism sector through board appointments with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Authority, National Insurance Corporation, Bridgetown Cruise Terminals, and the Tourism Development Corporation. He is also a recipient of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his enduring contributions to the industry.

Jon currently serves on the Boards of the Tourism Development Corporation and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Born in Barbados in 1951, Wayne Kirton qualified as an accountant (F.C.C.A) in 1975, and worked some 30 years with the B S & T Group before forming his own business consulting firm in 1999.

During his stint with the B S & T Group, he held “C” suite (CEO, CFO, and Chairman) positions at several of the Group’s subsidiaries, and served on the parent board for the last six years of his tenure with the Group, resigning as Finance Director of the Group in 1999 to start his own consulting firm. He also held numerous directorships on group company boards and associate companies, including ten years as a Director of Banks Holdings Ltd, and two years as Chairman of Sissons paints.

In his consulting practice, he has been engaged by several large Caribbean corporations, including the McAl group, the Rockley Group, and Ernst & Young Caribbean, to conduct full business reviews and/or to provide senior management services on contract. Mr. Kirton also worked with development and venture capital banks to assess the viability of new projects, and to improve profitability and cash flows at existing clients experiencing debt-service problems. His last management services contract before retiring was with the Government of Barbados, as CEO of Invest Barbados, the statutory corporation charged with promoting and attracting foreign direct investment for Barbados. He retired from consulting in 2016, but still holds a number of local and international business company directorships.

Mr. Kirton’s experience covers a variety of industries, including hotels, wholesale/distribution, retail (food, hardware/lumber, appliances, duty-free), manufacturing, services, car dealerships, insurance, banking, and the media (newspaper). During his tenure with B S & T, he developed a reputation for turning around the fortunes of troubled subsidiaries, and was frequently assigned to group subsidiaries experiencing difficulties. 

He served as President of the Chamber of Commerce from 1991-3, and held several public board appointments, including the National Productivity Board and the Foreign Exchange Committee, during that time. In 1989 he was appointed as the Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Barbados and demitted that office upon the opening of a Japanese Embassy in Barbados on January 1, 2016. In 2005, Mr. Kirton was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun 3^rd Class, one of Japan’s highest national decorations for foreigners’ service to the country. Mr. Kirton was a guest lecturer at U.W.I from 1989-1990 in their executive-In-residence program, and has lectured to MBA classes subsequently.

Married since 1972 to Sue, they have two adult sons, and three grandchildren. Mr. Kirton has been an active sportsman, including martial arts, and playing competitive club cricket and tennis in Barbados, before discovering golf, which remains an interest.

 Musically inclined, he plays the guitar and several other instruments, and regularly jams with friends in his instrumental band Touch of Grey. An avid reader, Wayne is also reasonably conversant in Spanish and French.

Gregory E. Hinkson is Principal Consultant and Managing Director of SAMDOR Services Limited. SAMDOR Services Limited is an independent boutique financial services firm specializing in financial advisory services, with a focus on pensions and investments.

Mr. Hinkson is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI). He is also a Member of the Certified Professional Accountants (CPA) of British Columbia, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB), a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

Mr. Hinkson is a Director of First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited and serves on the Bank’s Audit Committee. He is currently the first independent Chairman of the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund, Inc., the legal entity arising from the debt-for-nature swap deal, worth US$150 million, executed between the Government of Barbados, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2022. He is also a Director of BICO Limited, a member of the Investment Committee of the regional Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), and Vice-President of the Barbados Chapter of the Caribbean Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArB). Mr. Hinkson is a past Chairman of the Barbados Diocesan Trustees, past Chairman of the Barbados Diocesan Pensions Board, past Chairman of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Pension Plan, and a former Commissioner on the Barbados Fair Trading Commission (FTC).

Mr. Hinkson was Vice President, Investments at a regional insurance company, where he managed investment portfolios covering Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, the Netherlands Antilles, and Belize. He also served as Manager, Investments with the National Insurance Department in Barbados.

He is currently also a Temporary Lecturer for both the Graduate and Undergraduate Programme in Accounting and Finance at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

Lydia R. McCollin, FCCA, FCA, is the Managing Director and Lead Consultant of LRM Consulting Services Inc., bringing more than three decades of distinguished experience in accounting, auditing, financial management, and corporate governance. A Chartered Accountant and Auditor, she is a Fellow of both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB). She also holds an Honours Degree in Accounting from the University of the West Indies.

Lydia began her career with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), where she lived and worked in Barbados, The Bahamas, and St. Lucia. During this period, she led audit engagements across a wide range of industries, including banking, insurance, retail & distribution, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, health and tourism. Her second career chapter saw her transition into senior financial leadership, serving as Finance Manager at FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Ltd. with reporting responsibilities for Barbados, OECS and Belize before joining the ANSA McAL Group of Companies. There, she held several executive roles—Group Chief Financial Officer at ANSA MCAL (Barbados) Ltd, Vice President of Finance & Operations and Corporate Secretary at ANSA Bank Barbados Ltd., and Director of subsidiary companies within the Group.   She led companies through periods of leadership transition and major operational integrations across the financial and distribution sectors. Her governance leadership earned her the regional ANSA McAL Group CFO of the Year Award for best governance and audit performance.

Through LRM Consulting Services Inc., Lydia provides strategic and operational advisory services, advising public and private sector organizations on business transformation, governance frameworks, strategic planning, financial and regulatory management, and operational improvement.

Lydia has made significant contributions to the accounting profession in Barbados and the region. She is a Past President and Council Member of ICAB, serving as President from 2019 to 2021. Before joining Council, she chaired the Ethics, Governance & Risk Committee and later chaired the By-Laws Committee. She currently serves on ICAB’s Nominations Committee and previously represented ICAB as Alternate Director to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC and a director of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA).

Her board experience spans both the public sector and the financial services industry. She currently serves as Deputy Chairman of GovTech Barbados Ltd.; as a director and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committees of the Barbados Civil Aviation Authority; and as a director and audit committee member of First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited. Her previous directorships include CAPITA Financial Services Inc. where she chaired the Asset & Liability Management and Credit Policy Committee, served on Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, and held the role of Corporate Secretary.

Deeply committed to service, Lydia champions what she calls the “Giving of the Three Ts”—time, talent, and treasure. She is an active member and past director of The Rotary Club of Barbados West, member of the Barbados Diocesan Trustees Finance & Governance Committee, a member of The Cathedral Church of St. Michael & All Angels, and a lifetime member of the Queen’s College Association.

Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Lydia enjoys travelling and maintains a strong interest in health and fitness.