News Releases

The UWI Mourns Passing of former Campus Council Chair and Honorary Graduate, Michael Mansoor

For Release Upon Receipt - November 13, 2014

UWI


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, E. Nigel Harris has expressed sadness at the passing of honorary graduate, former chairman of The UWI St Augustine Campus Council, Executive Chairman of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd and ANSA McAL Executive, Michael Mansoor. The distinguished Banking Executive, who deservedly rose to high prominence in our society, passed away on Monday.

Mansoor gave eleven years of steadfast support and service to The UWI St. Augustine Campus in particular, through the oversight and implementation of a new system of governance; dissolution and reconstruction of the Campus Councils; and two strategic plans. It was during his chairmanship of Campus Council quality circles in our educational processes were introduced.

Trained as a chartered accountant, Mansoor has worked in very senior positions at Ernst & Young and ANSA McAL Ltd, as well as CIBC West Indies Holdings, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer. He has done national service in various capacities. He was an independent senator from 1987 to 1995, where his main area of concern was legislation relating to economics, financial and business matters. From 1996 to 1998, he was chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission and, subsequently, at PowerGen. He last served as Executive Chairman of Barbados-based CIBC FirstCaribbean till his retirement in October 2013.

Mansoor was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa at the 2012 UWI St. Augustine Graduation Ceremonies. Then Public Orator of the Campus, Professor Surujpal Teelucksingh called him “an intellectual heavyweight with a keen eye for a good investment.” Professor Teelucksingh added “He performed the Herculean task of merging two competing financial interests in the Caribbean: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Barclays. Out of this magnificent fusion arose the 3,500-person strong, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, now the region’s largest financial services institution and one whose future he has forged with his own deft hands…some of the lessons of this historic Caribbean development are explored in a series of business cases that are being studied both at UWI and elsewhere.”

In expressing condolences on behalf of The UWI, Vice-Chancellor Harris stated, “This is a considerable loss of a loyal friend of the University.” Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat added, “I knew him very well, a quiet, clear thinker, a scholar in his own right and a very fine gentleman; one who served the Campus and the University very well as Chair of our Campus Council, and a champion for The UWI. He was very keen to see us diversify our source of income and becoming a more independently, sustainable institution. A noted banker of excellent values and reputation and whose untimely passing is a big loss to Trinidad and Tobago and the region. We send our deepest sympathy to his family. “

 

End

 

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

Contact