Several Bermudian-based entrants have cleared a hurdle on the way to becoming chartered directors.

The Institute of Directors Bermuda announced the names of those who passed examinations in Certificate in Company Direction modules, stage one of the IoD Chartered Director programme, in October and November 2017.

The certificate is designed to equip directors with the knowledge and skills needed for effective performance covering the key areas of governance, finance, strategy and leadership.

These delegates may now use the designatory letters Cert IoD after their name:

• Heather Cooper, Bermuda manager, Steamship Insurance Management Services Ltd

• Leslie Rans, CPA adviser to the chairman, BAS Group

• Jane Hulse, finance director, Bacardi International Ltd

• Andrew Wright, group CFO, Bermuda Security Group Ltd

• Polina Komsalova-Branco, managing director, Celeste Holdings

• Gail Wright, head of secretariat, GAM Ltd

• Cheryl Ann Mapp, consultant, Island Legal Outsourcing Solutions

• Victoria Benevides

Further delegates also passed the November 8, 2017, sitting of the Diploma in Company Direction examination and may now use the designatory letters Dip IoD after their names.

• Craig Davis, Infrastructure Solutions general manager at the BAS Group

• Julia Henderson, senior vice-president, Brit Insurance Bermuda

• Polina Komsalova-Branco, managing director, Celeste Holdings

• Rochelle Simons, consultant, Sound View Ltd

September 2017 marked the first time that the Diploma in Company Direction programme was offered on island to local delegates.

The diploma, stage two of the IoD Chartered Director programme, is a three-day evolving case study which presents a variety of risk and crisis management and merger and acquisition issues that must be addressed by delegates who are assigned responsibilities on the company board.

Delegate directors experienced the dynamics, power, influence and conflicts typically experienced during strategic decision-making discussions in the boardroom.

The three-hour long diploma examination is composed of a single question accompanied by a case study in the format of a set of board papers.

The question mirrors the approach a new non-executive director might adopt when initially analysing an organisation.

The skill is for each delegate to independently demonstrate competency in analysing the information in the case study in response to the question, and then provide options and recommendations.

Rochelle Simons, chairwoman of the IoD Bermuda branch, said 2017 had been a significant year for the organisation.

“During this year, 17 delegates completed the Certificate in Company Direction programme, six earned the diploma designation and there was one new chartered director.

“The jurisdiction now has 43 certificate holders, 12 diploma holders and three chartered directors.

“These results reflect positively on Bermuda. The IoD brand has a global reputation for quality training and support for directors by directors. We are pleased that experienced professionals continue to enter the programme, engage with the learning environment, challenge themselves, network with delegates from diverse industries, and apply 21st-century director approaches to their organisations.”

The 2018 Certificate in Company Direction programme begins in February and space is limited to 20 delegates.

• For more information, call 295-1596 or visit the online registration portal, www.bii.bm. Contact the IoD Bermuda branch on 336-2447 or iodbermudabranch@gmail.com to learn more about professional development