The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) has appointed Roland Burrows as its next CEO.
Effective 1 December, Burrows will succeed interim CEO Sean Moran and will also become a non-executive of the BDA board.
The decision was made by the BDA board following a formal executive search over recent months.
Burrows most recently served as chief investment office (CIO) at the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), where he spent almost four-and-a-half years and was responsible for identifying and developing across the local tourism in the form of hotel development and other infrastructure.
The BTA’s investment concierge service, designed to facilitate hotel development in Bermuda, will also move to the BDA.
Prior to his role at the BTA, he spent 25 years in the financial industry, including a decade at HSBC Bermuda, where he served as head of commercial banking.
Burrows has also been a director on numerous boards, including HSBC Cayman Islands, and currently serves as a director of Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh Bermuda, and Pathways Bermuda.
BDA chair Paul Scope described Burrows as a “successful strategic leader” and noted that he had multiple characteristics that would be critical for the leadership of the agency.
He explained: “[He has] a strong track record of financial services and investment experience, in-depth knowledge of the Bermuda global business market, and deep understanding of the island's public and private spheres.”
“He will be a passionate advocate for Bermuda's international business sector, and we look forward to welcoming him.”
Scope praised the work done by Moran and the rest of the agency’s management and employee team during the transition period.
He said: “Moran kept the agency on track and focused on achieving strategic business-development goals.”
“The BDA team also deserves credit for its dedication and hard work.”
Burrows said he was in the “fortunate position of leaving one great team to join another”.
He added: "I look forward to bringing the results-driven strategies of the past four years at the BTA with me to the BDA, where I trust I can add value to the fantastic work already underway to strengthen Bermuda's economy and enhance the island's standing in the global business community."