Mcleod appointed BF&M VP

BF&M Limited has promoted David McLeod to executive vice president from senior vice president, BF&M Limited.

He previously worked for the Royal Sunalliance Group as regional director, North West England.

The company also appointed Glen Gibbons, a Bermudian, as senior vice president, BF&M General Insurance Company Limited.

Muller completes software training

Bespoke Software senior consultant Bror Muller, pictured, has become one of the few people in Bermuda to complete training in all aspects of the use and deployment of Microsoft's Reporting Services software, the company said in a press release.

Reporting Services, which was launched in late January of 2004, provides a cost-effective opportunity to Bermuda businesses, said Bespoke Software chief executive Paul McLeod, adding that having a consultant trained in all aspects of the tool was a "tremendous" advantage to Bespoke clients.

Mr. Muller has a maths and computer science degree from Waikato University in his native country of New Zealand. In the past 12 years he has worked in the information technololgy (I.T.) industry for governments, banks, telecommunications and insurance companies in New Zealand, England, Canada and now Bermuda. He is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer, has spoken at Microsoft's Developer Days conferences and is currently an active member of Bermuda's Chamber of Commerce in the Business Technology area.

Bermuda Microsystems in partnership with Altiris

Companies in Bermuda now have new options for managing their information technology (I.T.) more effectively through a new partnership between Bermuda Microsystems Group and Altiris Inc, the company said.

Recently Bermuda Microsystems announced a partnership with Altiris, a pioneer of I.T. management solutions. The two have joined forces to provide the full portfolio of Altiris products to customers on the island.

A recent showcase of Altiris at Bermuda Microsystems in Pembroke demonstrated the Altiris product to customers.

"Our customers are recognising that it is important that there is one unified, flexible product set that will manage their complete I.T.

lifecycle," said Phil Cooper, president of Bermuda Microsystems.

Founded in 1993, Bermuda Microsystems Group provides information technology solutions to corporations in Bermuda.

Dance foundation names directors

The National Dance Foundation announced the appointment of several new board members.

Dueane Dill, has over 20 years' experience in the captive management industry and is currently vice president of Atlantic Security Limited, an insurance management and brokerage firm. His volunteer activity has included chairman of the Local Awareness Committee for the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) (1999-2004), and he is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Bermuda High School.

Rachel Moore, executive director of American Ballet Theater (ABT) has over 20 years' of international dance experience. Since 1994, Ms Moore has held senior positions at leading dance and arts organisations most recently serving as director of Boston Ballet's Center for Dance Education (2001-2004). A former member of ABT's corps de ballet (1984-1988), she has served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington DC, was an advisor to the Diversity Committee at Boston Symphony Orchestra and continues to serve on the Board of Project STEP, (String Training and Educational Program for Students of Color), an educational outreach programme in Boston that prepares highly talented students of color for careers in the classical music profession.

Sallie Singleton, a founding member of the Bermuda Ballet Association and Hong Kong Ballet for All, Hong Kong's first professional ballet company, has also joined the National Dance Foundation. Mrs. Singleton has been involved with ballet in Bermuda for over 40 years. Prior to her arrival in Bermuda, she performed professionally with the Royal Ballet, Sadler's Wells and BBC TV in London. After returning to Bermuda and teaching at the School of Russian Ballet, Ms Singleton moved to Hong Kong where she headed two ballet schools, as well as one in the former Portuguese territory of Macau. She currently resides in Bermuda and is involved in raising scholarships for Bermudian dance students and is a member of the Bermuda Tourism Board.

Alan Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Butterfield Bank, came to Bermuda after holding increasingly senior positions in the United States, Singapore and the Middle East. He assumed his current position at Butterfield Bank in January 2002. He is a council member of the Bermuda Stock Exchange and a board member of both the Bermuda Hospital Charitable Trust and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

"The continued development of our Board strengthens the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda's ability to provide world-class training opportunities to Bermuda's dance community", said Foundation Chairman Donald Kramer. "Whether leading a financial or dance institution, each of these individuals recognizes the importance of dance in shaping youth development and character. Their commitment to Bermuda's dancers is to be applauded."

The Foundation's first International Dance Institute begins on August 15 and will include 66 dancers, 44 of whom are Bermudian. The Foundation is a non-profit organisation registered with the Bermuda Charities Commission and a company limited by guaranty, dedicated to the development of exceptional dancers and choreographers in Bermuda.