Team Categories: Executive


Secretary
Mr. Omar Burch-Smith is the County Manager at First Citizens Investment Services Limited St. Lucia and has over 13 years’ banking experience. In his current role, Omar serves as Senior Principal in the OECS for the organization, and leads a Team of investment and finance professionals responsible for providing investment solutions to clients and brokerage services to governments in the ECCU for issuance of debt securities. He previously served as Business Development Manager at FCIS where he was responsible for the development, generation and co-ordination of new business in the Eastern Caribbean. Prior to joining First Citizens, he served as a Corporate Relationship Manager at Bank of Saint Lucia Limited for 7 years.<br/><br/> Omar holds a BSc. & MSc. in Banking & Finance from the University of the West Indies Mona and Cave Hill Campuses respectively. His experience throughout his career covers Corporate Relationship Management, Financial Analytics, Risk Management, Banking Operations, Investment Advisory and Brokerage Services. Omar was also a facilitator with the Australian Institute of Business where he taught Business Finance for 3 years and also tutored Financial Management at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados for 1 year.<br/><br/> Omar considers himself a sports enthusiast with his favourite sports including basketball, which he plays, cricket, American football and football. He recently served as 2nd Vice President of the St. Lucia National Cricket Association having previously served as Deputy Treasurer. He is also an avid lover of music and pays very close attention to local, regional and international politics.

Member
Mrs Carol Mangal is the General Manager of Sagicor Finance Corporation.<br/><br/> Carol is a career banker with over 30 years’ experience, having worked in various departments of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank and its heritage company Barclays Bank PLC. Prior to her current role, Mrs Mangal served as Senior Relationship Manager for Sales & Platinum Banking at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, as well as Manager for the CIBC Rodney Bay Flagship Branch and the Vieux Fort Branch.<br/><br/> A proven results-driven leader, and the recipient of the 2013 CIBC FirstCaribbean Achievers award for Exemplary Leadership, Carol holds a Diploma in Financial Services Management from the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Financial Services in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma with Merit in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.<br/><br/> Carol is very adept at leading non-profit organizations having served as President for the St Lucia Swimming Federation for two consecutive terms - and is currently the Federation’s Immediate Past President. Carol was also selected as the 2016 National Sports Administrator at the 37th Annual Sports Awards.

President
Mr. Medford Francis is the Deputy Managing Director, Lending & Investments for Bank of Saint Lucia with extensive background and experience in both the public and private sectors. He is an experienced Development Economist having served as Chief Economist, National Development in the Ministry of Finance as well as Assistant Deputy Director, Economic Affairs focusing on the design, implementation and monitoring of development-oriented programs by international donors and financing institutions.<br/><br/> In his capacity as Senior Manager, Investment Banking Services, he has had overall oversight of the Bank’s and its clients’ investment portfolio for the better part of the last decade being responsible for day to day portfolio management. During this time, he engineered the introduction of a new portfolio management, accounting and analytics platform and amassed vast experience in international capital markets as he led the bank’s portfolio diversification strategy. As a Registered Principal on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE), Mr. Francis has been involved in raising financing for various governments on the Regional Government Securities Market and the listing of companies on the exchange.<br/><br/> In 2019, Mr. Francis assumed responsibility for the lending portfolio of the Bank in the capacity of Deputy Managing Director, Lending and Investments, affording him the opportunity to bring his investment experience to bear in the underwriting of corporate and commercial as well as retail lending facilities.

Secretary
Mr. Johnathan Jason Johannes, the Managing Director of 1st National Bank St. Lucia Limited brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience in retail, sales, operations, customer service and performance management, having spanned a career of 16 years in banking and management. Mr. Johannes distinguished himself early in his career as one of five candidates selected from 300 Caribbean applicants to join the Barclays Leadership programme. He was part of the Barclays Bank Caribbean and CIBC West Indies Integration Team in the establishment of the First Caribbean International Bank. His natural ability to lead and passion for people and Banking saw him progressed to senior positions within the OECS region. Mr. Johannes is a graduate of the University of Lincoln (UK) in the discipline of International Business Administration. He is currently the Vice president of the St. Lucia Chamber of commerce Industry and Agriculture and a Director of the Caribbean Association of Banks. Mr. Johannes continues to serve his country and believes in the ingenuity of our people. His passion for service excellence will ensure that customers receive world class customer experience from a world class institution that we can all be proud to call our own.