When former Executive Chairman of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Michael Mansoor, passed away in 2014, the bank he helped found in 2002 and led until his retirement in 2013 wanted to do something meaningful to keep his memory alive.
In 2014, at a memorial service following Mr. Mansoor’s passing, the bank announced that it would commit a minimum of Bds $200,000 – $20,000 per year for an initial 10 years – for the provision of scholarships to children at the St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Barbados, which was also extended to the St. Francis School for boys a few years later.
In making this year’s presentation of funds to the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Bridgetown, Bishop Neil Scantlebury, Director of Corporate Communications and Trustee of the bank’s charitable foundation, Debra King, spoke of Mr. Mansoor’s contribution to the bank and to the development of his native Trinidad & Tobago, and the Caribbean in general. She noted that he spoke often of the value of a good education and of his gratitude for the quality of his own primary and secondary education, which gave him his start in life.
Michael Mansoor excelled academically at Barataria R.C. Boys, a school run by the Catholic church, after which he was awarded a College Exhibition to St Mary’s College, Port of Spain. He went on to win an island scholarship in 1966. He then studied in Canada, receiving the Chartered Accountant designation in 1972, and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario in 1974, and was placed on the Dean’s Honour List.
Mr. Mansoor distinguished himself academically, and in the business, publishing, accounting and finally the financial services sector, before retiring in 2013. Mr. Mansoor also served as the Chairman of the Campus Council of the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. In 2012, the degree of honorary Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by the University of the West Indies.
Michael Mansoor served as Executive Chairman of CIBC FirstCaribbean from its inception in October of 2002 to his retirement on 31st December 2013, after which he continued to serve on the company’s Board of Directors. >He was also Chair of the bank’s charitable foundation, which was established when the bank was formed in October of 2002. He previously president and CEO of CIBC West Indies Holdings.
Also present to receive the funds were Principal of the St. Patricks’ Roman Catholic School, Sister Mercy, and the school’s head Boy, Amali Marshall, and Head Girl, Rauica Ashwanuath.
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