Featured on GIS Spotlight this week, Mr. Franz Manderson is the Cayman Islands new Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service.

With a unique complement of skills and experience, Mr. Manderson is highly respected both inside and outside the civil service, and there is little doubt that his friendly but stern personality will add great value to his new post, which he took up on 1 February.

Even so, while growing up in West Bay four decades ago, the perfect man for the job could not have imagined that he would become the second deputy governor.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Manderson said: “I am extremely excited to take up this new role. I look forward to working with His Excellency the Governor Duncan Taylor and the Hon. Premier McKeeva Bush, together with chief officers, in order to improve the performance of the civil service while making the Cayman Islands Government a caring employer.”

Mr. Manderson’s long and distinguished public service career began in 1981, when he was hired as a clerical officer.

In 2003, after attaining a BA (Hons) degree in law, he took a break for a year to pursue his articles of clerkship at local law firm Walkers, and he was called to the Caymanian Bar in 2004. He then returned to the Immigration Department and later became Chief Immigration Officer which had been his long-term goal as a young officer.

Even as he realized his early ambition, there was more in store for Mr. Manderson, and in 2009, he was appointed Chief Officer, Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs.

Here he worked to improve strategic effectiveness and has overseen the introduction of key pieces of crime-reduction legislation such as the Alternative Sentencing Law, the Police Law and the Information and Communications Technology Authority Regulations. He also led a number of initiatives aimed at promoting security, including the National CCTV Programme.

Despite his successful public service career, Mr. Manderson remains helpful, approachable and unassuming and has promised to keep his “open door policy” which has been a hallmark of his career.

It is this attitude that he brings to his new post where he plans to introduce significant changes to help improve the culture of the civil service. He will also encourage dialogue and open communication among employees at all levels; establish training programmes; provide quality induction for new civil servants; support both personal and professional growth, such as involvement in charitable organizations or activities that are relevant to work objectives; increase strong customer service ethics and promote good performance.

Overall, his main focus is to put the civil service first with the key to his efforts “making the civil service a respected and independent organization that cares for the well-being of its employees.”

Continuing Mr. Manderson said, “It is my goal to make this organization the employer of choice in the Cayman Islands – one which rewards its staff for successful performance and high excellence.”

Ever humble, Mr. Manderson attributes his success in the public sector to his colleagues, friends and mentors John Bostock, Jerry McGuire, Orrett Connor, Donovan Ebanks, George McCarthy and James Ryan. He also owes much to his mother, Mrs. Jenny Manderson, for being a positive influence in his life. He remains thankful for the sacrifices she made which allowed him to pursue an education.

Mr. Manderson enjoys being a loving husband to Nuvia and devoted father to children Alyssa (20) and Franz Jr. (14).

GIS Spotlight airs on Cayman27 at 8:30 p.m. on Monday and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. All stories seen in this week’s show can also be found on the GIS Marketing and Communications website: www.gis.ky.

An audio version can be heard on Radio Cayman Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.