• Chairman BIBA – Canada (Barbados International Business Assoc in Canada)
• Lecturer in International Business, International Governance, Leadership & Managing Across Cultures – U of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management
• Sr. Adviser – Center for Trade Policy & Law – Carleton/University of Ottawa
• Author – “New Subsidiary Governance for International Banks” (2013)
• Author – “The Canada – Barbados Connection” (2017)
• Author – “How to Achieve Business Success AND Effective Governance in International Subsidiaries” (2020)
• Previous Executive and International Businesses for RBC:
  • Reinsurance – Barbados – Chairman & CEO
  • Global Private Banking, Trust & Investment – Jersey (Channel Islands) – Managing Director
  • Global Securities Services – London, England – Managing Director
  • Corporate Trust – Toronto (Canada) – Vice President
• PhD – St Gallen University, Switzerland – Corporate Governance of International Business – 2013
• MBA (Dean’s List) – University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management – Toronto, Canada
• BA – Loyola College, Concordia University – Montreal, Quebec
• Numerous Governmental & Industry Associations & Charities

Specialties: Heading International Businesses (Securities, Private Banking, Reinsurance), Board Governance, Government Advisor and Liaison, Joint Ventures, Lecturing, Consulting, Negotiating & Managing Mergers & Strategy Formulation.

Managing Director & V.P.

Global Private Banking & Global Private Insurance

Royal Bank of Canada & RBC Insurance

July 2000 – July 2002

Head of RBC’s Global Private Banking acquisition activities; and RBC Insurance’s Global Private Insurance product development, located in Toronto, Ontario.

Current

BIBA-Canada (Barbados International Business Association – Canada)

Chairman

Canadian business continues to expand and invest internationally. Due to the nature of the extensive Dual Tax Agreements that Barbados has developed around the world and with Canada, Barbados has developed an unique place in the world of international investment by serving as THE conduit for Canadian businesses to invest internationally. BIBA-Canada, the Canadian chapter of the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA) in Barbados serves to help Canadian companies in their relationships with industry and government in Barbados.

July 2010 – Present

Golf Canada (Royal Canadian Golf Association)

Governance & Finance Committees & Chair, Governor’s Council; Board Member 2017 – 2019

Canada’s National Sports Organization for the game of golf.

September 2009 – 2019

Northumberland Hills Hospital

Board Director, Governance Committee (Chair) and Audit & Finance Committee

September 2011 – 2015

Trinity College School – Port Hope

Infrastructure Committee; Strategic Planning Committee

September 2009 – 2015

Former

Barbados International Business Association

Board Director & President (2006-2007)

July 2004 – July 2009

Royal Commonwealth Society – Barbados Branch

Councillor

September 2006 – July 2009

Invest Barbados – Government of Barbados

Board Member

July 2006 – July 2007

Royal Westmoreland Golf Club, Barbados

Governor

July 2005 – July 2009

Barbados Ministry of International Business – “Joint Policy Working Committee”

Policy Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados

May 2004 – 2008

Barbados International Insurance Association

Board Director & Board Chair (2004-2005)

2003 – 2005

Wildlife Preservation Canada

Board Member & 1st Vice President

September 2000 – July 2002

Others

• Trustee, Hautlieu School – Jersey Channel Islands
• Guardien, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust – Jersey, Channel Islands
• Executive Secondment to the Government of Jersey, Channel Islands
• Chair of Camping Committee, Boy Scouts of Canada, GTA Region, Toronto
•  University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
  •  Rotman Alumni Board (1989 – 1992); President (1990 – 1991)
  • UofT Alumni Association Board (1989-1992)
  •  Rotman Dean’s Advisory Council (1991 – 1992)
• Facilitator,  Junior Achievement, Toronto
• Assistant Scout Master, Montreal
• Civil Protection, Montreal

Governor General’s Medallion

The Rt. Hon. David Johnston – For Service to Canada in International Business

2012

Permanent Honourary Member

Royal Commonwealth Society – Barbados Branch

2010

Permanent Honourary Trustee

Wildlife Preservation Trust of Canada

2002

Fellow Securities Institute (UK)

Securities Institute (UK)

1996

Arbor Award for Volunteerism

University of Toronto

1992

June 2014

Downloadable PDF

June 2013

As business continues to expand internationally how can a board of directors be assured that their international subsidiaries are not ticking time bombs for their parent companies, as happened with Barings, ENRON, Parmalat, AIG and more recently Rupert Murdock’s “News of the World” crisis, and JP Morgan’s $5 billion trading disaster in London?? This book discovers the best practices employed by Canada’s Banks to answer why they have been named “the most stable Banking system in the world” for the past 6 years (World Economic Forum).

December 15, 2008

For more than a century, Canada and Barbados have enjoyed the mutual benefit of trade, society and friendship. Canada established a trade mission in 1910 and RBC opened an office to support trade through Letters of Credit in 1911. Today Barbados is the third largest destination for Canadian Direct Foreign Investment by Canadian Companies (after the US and the UK). But what lies ahead for Canada and Barbados over the next 100 years!??

Link to Publication

December 15, 2007

What is it about Barbados that makes it so attractive for international business to establish subsidiaries and operations. Why has Barbados become the third largest destination for Canadian Direct Foreign Investment, only after the United States and the United Kingdom? What makes international business executives chose Barbados over other potential jurisdictions? The answer? Barbados’ “Natural Resources”!

Link to Publication

December 7, 2007

As businesses expand internationally how can they successfully bridge the cultural, social, linguistic and other business “gaps” that could lead to failure? Why did McDonald’s fail in Bolivia and Barbados and Disney almost fail in Paris? How do you prevent failures yourself in future? The author provides insight and coins a new term: “Transcultural Conduits” to serve as the two way flow of global needs and local requirements.

Downloadable PDF

April 30, 2005

With the rapid expansion of international business sector in Barbados, the Deputy Prime Minister formed the Joint Policy Working Committee to examine several challenges to this sector. the Sub-Committee on Business Facilitation was asked to investigate and provide recommendations on how to improve support the needs of the international business community and to better facilitate this important and growing contributor to Barbados’ economy.

Authors:

• Dr Jeanine Coma
• Anthony Sobers
• Andrew Alleyne
• Ellsworth Young
• Thomas C. Sears – Committee Chair

Downloadable PDF

November 2004

Exempt Insurance Companies and Qualified Insurance Companies in Barbados realize certain incentives as provided within their regulations and legislation’s. At the request of the Superintendent of Insurance the Barbados International Insurance Group (BIIA), under the Chairmanship of Tom Sears was requested to examine and determine the impact of proposed new regulations that would introduce a “Tax Convergence” affecting all members of the international business community in Barbados, including international insurance.

Downloadable PDF

May 2008

How do managers in today’s expansive international companies balance the needs for success and the corporate needs for strong governance as they expand into new and emerging international markets? These challenges are similar to the complex demands that entrepreneurs face. What differentiates firms that are successful in their international subsidiaries from firms that fail? Based on the findings of the Cranet Study in Canada, we propose that large international corporations need strong intrapreneurs heading their subsidiaries.

“New Subsidiary Governance for International Banks”

2009 – 2012

Tom’s first book – a collage of excerpts from his doctoral dissertation on corporate governance of international subsidiaries

“The Canada Barbados Connection”

2016 – 2017

A 300 year review of the Trade, Business and Societal connections between these two long time friendly nations tp celebrate Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence (November 2016) and Canada’s 150th Birthday as a Nation (July 2017). Published by the Central Bank of Barbados.

“How to Achieve Business Success and Effective Corporate Governance in International Subsidiaries”

2020

As business expand internationally they take on new risks. New Businesses often fail in the first 5 years of existence. That pressure can cause leaders to cut corners; corners that can lead to governance breaches and even larger problems for Head Office and corporate shareholders and other stakeholders. We provide practical guidelines and implementation steps to achieve both.

Ph.D. (Economics), Governance of International Bank Subsidiaries

St Gallen University, Switzerland

2007 – 2012

Master of Business Administration (MBA), International Business, Dean’s List

University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management

1985 – 1988

Canadian Securities Course

Investor Dealer’s Association, Toronto Canada

1979

Bachelor of Arts

Loyola College, University of Montreal (English & Philosophy)

1974