Richard L. Downer, CD, FCA, a former senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC) in Jamaica, is currently a member of the boards of directors,chairing audit committees, and Mentor of listed companies. His directorships of private sector companies have included those in 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. Also since retirement from PwC he was the 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 the public sector, 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.
He was the Agent of the Minister of Finance for the Temporary Management of several troubled financial institutions and has advised the governments of countries in the Middle East, the Far East and the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia on privatization policy and transactions.
He has been a 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 conferred on him its Distinguished Member award and he was inducted into the Munro College Hall of Fame. He was made Commander of the Order of Distinction by Jamaica for services to accountancy and being apioneer in privatization.
