The Cayman Islands Bankers Association (CIBA) has announced the appointment of Ms. Sarah Hobbs as President and Ms. Amanda Bodden as Vice President.  This makes history as Sarah is the first female President of CIBA to be appointed since its inception in 1979 and this is the first time two female appointees will head the CIBA Board of Directors (Executive Committee).

Mr. Richard Lewis, Chief Operating Officer of CIBA, said that the appointment of two female committee members, and their combined experience within the Caribbean banking sector, will prove invaluable to CIBA and its mission to further the development of the Cayman Islands as an international banking centre. “Both Ms. Hobbs and Ms. Bodden have had impressive careers across Caribbean financial services. They are ideally situated to continue to grow our organization and guide CIBA’s strategic vision to best benefit the membership. We are thrilled to celebrate the diversity on our board; this appointment marks our first female President and Vice President leadership combination.” 

Ms. Sarah Hobbs is Managing Director at Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Limited and brings with her 25 years of experience in senior management positions across multiple jurisdictions in the Caribbean. She succeeds Mr. Omari Corbin, who will be stepping down after serving as CIBA President for the past two years.

Incoming CIBA Vice President, Amanda Bodden, is currently SVP, Head of Retail Banking and Operations at Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited. Ms. Bodden has been employed with Butterfield Group for 18 years, holding increasingly senior positions throughout her tenure. Ms. Bodden will replace Mr. Gregory Fletcher, who has served as CIBA Vice President since 2020.

Incoming President, Ms. Sarah Hobbs marks the appointment as a significant step forward for CIBA. “While diversity in leadership roles is something to be celebrated in all spheres, this progression is particularly notable for a financial services association which traditionally sees fewer female appointments. I am delighted to accept the position and believe our diverse new board is well-placed to continue to champion the common interests of our members.” 

Ms. Amanda Bodden said, “I am proud and excited to be included in this historic appointment. I would like to thank the association and the broader banking community for the support we have already received. I look forward to working closely with President Sarah Hobbs and the rest of the board over the next year.”