BMA appoints former Aon exec as COO

The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) has appointed Shanna Lespere as its chief operations officer (COO).

Lespere has been with the BMA for more than ten years. She joined in 2004 as assistant director of the banking, trust and investment department’s investment group. Most recently she served as director of operations.

Before joining the BMA, Lespere was a vice president at Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) having joined the company in 1996.

Jeremy Cox, chief executive of the BMA, said: “Shanna has been the ultimate team player at the Authority, and we are delighted that she’s agreed to take on this important role. There’s little she doesn’t know about the work we do, having overseen activities in most areas.

“It’s important for the Authority to have a strong COO at this stage in our evolution. Worldwide, regulatory requirements have increased considerably over the past decade, and we’ve had to raise our standards accordingly. Being solid operationally is essential to ensuring we function as a world-class regulator and Bermuda remains a credible, trusted and respected jurisdiction.”

Gerald Simons, chairman of the BMA’s board of directors, Gerald Simons, said: “We know Shanna will continue to bring value to the organisation in her new and expanded position and we look forward to working even more closely with her. One of the key responsibilities of the board is to oversee the leadership of the BMA. The top team is excellent; Shanna’s promotion will strengthen it even further.”