David Cummings

Experience

Former Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Brigadier David Cummings is an accomplished leader who brings unmatched depth of experience and expertise in project management, negotiation, risk management, finance and logistics. Prior to joining Sygnus, David served with the JDF for over 32 years where he held impressive leadership roles, including Colonel General Staff and Colonel Adjutant Quartermaster, and lastly as Deputy Chief. During his tenure he created and successfully implemented projects valued at over US$200 million spanning construction, infrastructure, maritime, information systems and aviation.

As Head of Real Estate and Project Finance, David is charged with providing leadership and project management of Sygnus Real Estate Finance Ltd. (SRF). No stranger to high-level negotiations and risk management, David is astute at leading and developing high-performing teams for complex organizations and projects. David served as a Board Member and Chairman of Audit, ICT and Security Committees for the Urban Development Corporation for seven years. He is a recipient of the Order of Distinction in the 2016 National Honours and Award for outstanding service to the Jamaica Defence Force. He possesses a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Military Arts & Sciences and a Master of Business Administration.

Dr. Ike Johnson, PhD, CFA

Experience

Ike Johnson learned from a young age that if you put your mind to something, you will succeed. It wasn’t always this way. As a young man he shied away from “beating the books.” Today, he holds a PhD in finance from the University of Manchester Business School. Once Ike decided on his calling, there was no stopping him from seeing things all the way through. Now, he has his mind set on making Sygnus the top non-traditional financial solutions firm in the Caribbean.

Ike is a Co-founder and currently holds the title of Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. He is no stranger to intensive work and study, and brings a fierce determination to succeed.

Ike’s career start was at Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB), where he served as Market Risk Analyst, providing key q​uantitative ​analytical tools and introducing important ​risk ​monitoring and reporting mechanisms. He left JMMB for 3 years to pursue his doctoral studies in the UK, and then re-joined the company as their Senior Strategy Management Officer. More recently, Ike served as Assistant Vice President of Business Analytics and Product Development for Scotia Investments Jamaica, a subsidiary of ​the ​Scotiabank Group.

Ike has led or participated in major negotiations and deal structuring, including the successful acquisition of the Capital and Credit Financial Group at JMMB, the acquisitions of AIC Securities in Trinidad and Tobago and a privately held Jamaican Broker-Dealer. At Scotia Investments, his responsibilities included managing and executing the introduction of all brokerage and investment products across the firm, including structured notes, derivatives, and fund products. He also managed the execution and implementation of corporate strategic initiatives.

Elizabeth Stair, OD, JP, FRICS, Attorney-at-Law

Experience

Financial & Regulatory Consultant practicing in the Jamaican and US markets; Former Director of Corporate Finance and Financial Controller at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited; Former Group Controller at MaruEnergy Caribbean Limited; Former Audit Senior at Ernst & Young and former Senior Accountant at KPMG.

Pierre Williams, CFA, MSc

Experience

Financial & Regulatory Consultant practicing in the Jamaican and US markets; Former Director of Corporate Finance and Financial Controller at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited; Former Group Controller at MaruEnergy Caribbean Limited; Former Audit Senior at Ernst & Young and former Senior Accountant at KPMG.

Horace Messado, FCA, MSc

Experience

A highly qualified and experienced professional with expertise in the Energy Services, Utility Regulations, Investment and Financial Management, Horace is a chartered accountant with over 25 years experience. He has significant experience in accounting, corporate finance, contract negotiation, regulatory economics and tariff design, business development, and strategic planning, and has operated at the executive level for the past 15 years. He currently operates a consultancy, which advises clients in the areas of Financial Management, Capital Markets and Energy Rate Regulation.

Horace started his career in professional services firms KPMG and Ernst & Young Services Limited, where he garnered significant experience before transitioning to corporate Jamaica. He held many senior positions including Financial Controller and Director of Corporate Finance at JPS, and Group Financial Controller at MaruEnergy Caribbean Limited. JPS is the largest integrated utility in the Caribbean with over US$1 billion in annual turnover, and MCL controlled a portfolio on power assets in four Caribbean territories including Trinidad & Tobago, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

In various capacities, Horace has led many commercial loan negotiations, regulatory negotiations supporting utility energy rate adjustments, participated in the renegotiation of the JPS operating License, and advised various clients on regulatory matters both from the investor and regulator perspectives. Other major accomplishments include developing and implementing financial management and internal control systems, playing the roles of Trustee and Chairman of the Investment Committee of one of the largest pension funds in Jamaica.

Horace is a chartered accountant and holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Manchester.

Linval Freeman, FCA, FCCA

Experience

Linval is Chairman of the Public Accountancy Board Investigations Committee and a member of the Accounting Standards Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica. He serves as Director and Chairman of the Audit Committees for Sygnus Real Estate Finance Limited, and Canopy Insurance Limited. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Council of the University of Technology. Linval serves as a Justice of the Peace. Some previous roles that Linval has held include former Director and Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young Caribbean, Jamaica Office; former Director at PriceWaterHouseCoopers, and the first Director in charge of its then newly established internal audit practice.