Press Releases

British American Head Appointed Board Member Of Eleuthera Properties Limited
15 October 2007

Mr. I. Chester Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer of British American Financial has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Eleuthera Properties Limited, (EPL)  He is the third Bahamian to serve in this capacity, joining Mr. Bismark Coakley and Mr. Thomas Sands.

Making the announcement was EPL’s Chairman, Mr. Franklyn Wilson, who described Cooper as a talented young Bahamian with much to offer to this new position.

“Mr. Cooper is one of our talented young businessmen who is highly respected as a financial expert both locally and internationally.  We are happy that he has accepted our invitation to serve as a Board member,” said Wilson.

Cooper recently led a Bahamian Group to acquire British American Insurance Company. He was named Business Person of the Year 2007 by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce.

Cooper who has worked as an Investment Banker in Luxembourg, Dublin, Ireland and The Bahamas, brings a significant amount of experience and expertise in the areas of corporate trust & fiduciary services, financial & retirement planning, investment fund services, mutual funds and pension management.

In 2001 he joined British American Insurance Company, a full service financial services and investments company, and quickly moved through the ranks of  Vice President of Financial Services & Investments, Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer to become President and CEO in 2005. In this position he is responsible for charting the strategic course of the 87 year old financial institution.  Prior to  joining British American he was also a high school business teacher, and Head of Corporate Services at SG Hambros Bank & Trust.  He holds an MBA degree, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics & Finance, and associate membership in the UK Securities Institute. He also sits on the board of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and the Bahamas Government Venture Capital Fund.

Expressing pleasure on being asked to serve on EPL’s Board, Mr. Cooper said “I am delighted to serve on the board of directors of EPL. I look forward to contributing to the great vision of re-invigorating Cotton Bay and South Eleuthera”.

Eleuthera Properties Ltd. (EPL) is located in The Bahamas and is the direct corporate successor to South Eleuthera Properties Ltd., the vehicle which, from the 1950s, was the initial developer of the Cotton Bay Club. From its inception, the mission of EPL has been to create a destination with a distinct presence and identity in the overall tourism marketplace. Its newest development, Cotton Bay  features Cotton Bay Estates , a residential resort community, and Cotton Bay Villas , a boutique hotel that will be Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s first Luxury Collection property in the Bahamas.  Located on the Out Island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas, Cotton Bay is scheduled to open in early 2008. 

« back to the news headlines