Richard L. Downer, CD, FCA, is an accomplished board member, audit committee chair, and mentor to listed companies. He brings a wealth of expertise to his roles, and previously served as the Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Jamaica, specialising in Corporate Finance.
Mr. Downer's private sector directorships have included companies in the financial sector (life and general insurance, commercial and investment banking, and building societies), beverage manufacturing, information technology, agriculture, tourism (hotels and attractions), distribution, real estate development, and construction industries. He was also a Senior Adviser to a private equity firm in London, England, and on the Rating Committee of a credit rating agency that rates sovereigns and large corporates in the Caribbean.
In addition to his private sector experience, Mr. Downer has served as Chair of the Coffee Industry Board and as a director of the Bank of Jamaica, as well as government entities involved in tourism and education. As Executive Director of the decision support unit in the Prime Minister's office, he was involved in tax reform, investment promotion, and monitoring aspects of the economy and was in charge of the privatization of large state enterprises. At the time of Jamaica’s financial sector crisis he was appointed as Agent of the Minister of Finance to oversee the operations of several troubled entities in the sector.
Mr. Downer has advised governments on privatization policy and transactions in the Middle East, the Far East and the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Russia. He has also held various leadership roles, including director of the American Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, director of the Public Accountancy Board and the Conference Board of Jamaica, and Honorary Treasurer of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica.
Mr. Downer qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Canada and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, which awarded him its Distinguished Member award. He was also inducted into the Munro College Hall of Fame and made Commander of the Order of Distinction by Jamaica for services to accountancy and being a pioneer in privatization. With his extensive experience and knowledge, Mr. Downer brings a valuable perspective to any board of directors.
