April Turner – Recognised as Executive of the Year

##April Nicole Turner
Chief Operating Officer, M B& H Corporate Services Ltd.

Aliya Allen, CEO & Executive Director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB), has announced that the independent Blue Ribbon Panel has selected the Financial Services Industry’s Executive of the Year – April Nicole Turner. A Partner of the law firm of McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, April Turner also serves as Chief Operating Officer at affiliate MB& H Corporate Services Ltd., a licensee under the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act. In submitting the nomination her colleagues say that Mrs. Turner has demonstrated a keen understanding of the trends and challenges in the financial services industry, both locally and globally and this has allowed her to develop a vision for the future growth of MB&H Co. that reflects the dynamic and innovative nature of the industry. Under her leadership, the business model of MB&H Co. has been modified to exploit the opportunities of the changing landscape of financial services and to ensure that the company has remained competitive with local and international service providers.

BFSB will recognise the Executive at a Gala Awards Banquet on Friday, November 09, at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, when awards also will be presented in 5 other categories: Professional of the Year, Mentor of the Year, Achiever of the Year, FSI Development & Promotion, and Student of the Year.

The Blue Ribbon Panel took note of a series of notable accomplishments by the firm under the COO’s leadership. She has introduced new systems at MB&H Corporate Services, amended procedures, conducted internal reviews of precedents and documents, revamped the fee structure for services, introduced training for staff members, improved the client service platform and implemented best practices throughout the operations of the company.

Mrs. Turner has taken personal responsibility for client development, significantly impacting in a positive way the overall delivery of services to clients. She has focused on diversifying the services and product offering of MB&H Co. to create new income streams by ensuring that her staff is trained and well informed on the new product legislation enacted in the Bahamas. This process has involved both internal and external seminars, workshops and information meetings on a wide range of subjects including Foundations, Purpose Trusts, Segregated Account Companies, Private Trust Companies, Investment Funds and Executive Entities. She has also instilled in her staff a renewed commitment to service and professionalism when dealing with clients and strengthened core competencies throughout all members of staff.

Mrs. Turner also serves as the Compliance Officer and Anti-money Laundering Reporting Officer of both the law firm and its corporate services entity. She has reformed the compliance procedures for MB&H Co. and has introduced enhanced and more robust due diligence protocols designed to protect the quality and integrity of the company’s business activities. All of these initiatives have required strong leadership and high standards of competence. While demonstrating these qualities throughout her term as the COO of MB&H Co., this was particularly so during the past year as she has lead the company through its transition from a company incorporation/management business to a modern fully diversified all purpose financial service provider.

She advises both local and international clients on an extensive range of financial services, including company formation, corporate administration and management, registration of foundations and segregated account companies, mergers and acquisitions, continuation of companies, company liquidations and anti-money laundering procedures.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada in 1991. In 1995 she obtained a dual honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Criminology from the University of Keele, Stafford, England. In 1996 she was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales as a member of the Honourable Society of Inner Temple and was admitted to the Bahamas Bar in 1997.