Benjamin Freeman appointed CEO of Fidelity Bank

(CMR) Three months after PROVEN Investments Limited acquired Fidelity Bank Cayman through its newly formed subsidiary PROVEN Bank  Holdings Limited, Benjamin ‘Ben' Freeman has been appointed as President and CEO, effective  June 1, 2022.

Following the takeover, the Bank's Board of Directors immediately reviewed FBC's current structure. This was followed by an extensive search to identify a leader capable of complementing and enhancing the skills of the bank's existing management.

Mr. Freeman, with his proven performance in this regard and having met all the internal and regulatory requirements, will successfully assume this mantle. 

“Our search considered the Group's desire for growth, along with leadership that was familiar with both the local and regional landscape. We also required a decisive leader with the commercial acumen, passion for empowering people, and commitment to investing in the technology required to deliver a best-in-class customer experience,” Garfield Sinclair, Chairman of the bank's Board of  Directors, highlighted.

“Ben has, above all, a demonstrated commitment to PROVEN's core values of integrity, teamwork, performance, and respect. So, I wholeheartedly welcome him to the team on behalf of the Board of Directors,” he added.

With over 34 years of professional experience, 20 in the banking industry, Benjamin Freeman has served some of the world's largest banking groups. He has served in senior roles in  UBS AG, Manufacturers Hanover/Chemical Bank, and First Caribbean International Bank (CIBC).

He is highly regarded for his sound leadership approach, being results-oriented, his broad functional expertise in all business lines, and his dedication to optimal customer experiences. 

In addition to his experience in banking, Mr. Freeman spent 13 years in Cable and  Wireless Communications, recently leading The Bahamas Communication Company's consumer division. This included sixty-seven (67) retail stores located on seventeen (17) family islands across the Bahamas.

He was responsible for product management, retail, direct sales, and the newly created customer center of excellence. During his tenure, Mr. Freeman led the disaster recovery efforts for his division during and after the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama and Abaco. 

“I am very excited to have been selected as Fidelity Bank's President & CEO and to join in building on the Bank's legacy as we work to accelerate growth and to deepen our support for customers and the community,” said Mr. Freeman.

“I am eagerly looking forward to working with the highly experienced and dedicated Cayman team to create a brighter future for customers, employees, and all stakeholders,” he added.

Mr. Freeman currently lives in the Cayman Islands and has lived and worked in the Caribbean, including  Barbados and The Bahamas, for fifteen (15) years.