BVI Financial Services Commission Confirms Duo Executive Appointments

BVI Financial Services Commission Confirms Duo Executive Appointments

Tortola, British Virgin Islands – The BVI Financial Services Commission (the Commission) recently confirmed the executive appointments of Mr Leon A Wheatley and Mrs Tashel Martin-Jackson.

Mr Leon A Wheatley has taken up the post of Director, Authorisation and Supervision with retroactive effect from 1 July 2023. He commenced employment with the Commission in August 2002 and has subsequently served in various capacities within what was formerly known as the Investment Business Division. His tenure at the Commission has also included appointment as Deputy Director of Investment Business and, most recently, Deputy Director in the Compliance Inspection Unit.

Wheatley brings a wealth of experience to the regulatory landscape of the BVI financial services sector with his multifaceted background, which includes a stint as the Commission’s Asia Representative in Hong Kong (BVI Financial Services Commission (HK) Limited) from January 2016 to October 2017. He currently serves as Chairman of the Commission’s Supervisory Risk Committee, which is tasked with keeping the supervisory risk assessment framework up to date.

In Wheatley’s new role as Director of Authorisation and Supervision, he will maintain administrative and strategic oversight for Commission authorisation and supervisory functions conducted by: 

• Authorisation Unit
• Prudential Supervision Unit
• Specialised Supervision Unit
• Market Conduct Supervision Unit

Wheatley holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance and is a Certificate member of the Institute of Risk Management.

Mrs Tashel Martin-Jackson takes over Wheatley’s former role as Deputy Director, Compliance Inspection Unit, with her appointment taking effect from 2 January 2024.

She possesses over a decade of regulatory experience and has played an integral role in the assessment of licensee compliance with the AML Code of Practice, the Regulatory Code, and other relevant financial services legislation. Martin-Jackson has also demonstrated expansive knowledge of the FATF requirements and regulatory audit procedures during her career. She has been instrumental in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Unit which she now leads, as reflected in her contribution to the development of the Commission’s risk management framework.

Martin-Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance along with diplomas from the International Compliance Association in Governance, Risk and Compliance; and, Anti-Money Laundering.

The Managing Director and CEO of the Commission – Mr Kenneth Baker, expressed his confidence in the new executives, stating that “the Commission is committed to the strategic placement of staff based on experience, qualifications and demonstrated capacity to contribute to the fulfilment of our mission and objectives. Both Mr Wheatley and Mrs Martin-Jackson are seasoned regulators who are familiar with the persistent pressures and expectations that come with the Commission’s line of work; I, therefore, welcome their appointments during this pivotal period of financial services regulatory oversight.”

The BVI Financial Services Commission is the autonomous regulatory agency responsible for regulating and supervising financial services conducted in and from within the Territory. 

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to:

EXTERNAL RELATIONS UNIT
BVI Financial Services Commission
18 Pasea Estate Road, Tortola VG1110
British Virgin Islands
Tel: (284) 494-4190
Fax: (284) 494-5016 
Email: externalrelations@bvifsc.vg