The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has named a finance and business
mogul as its Chancellor-designate to replace the current Chancellor, Robert
Bermudez, effective August 1, 2024.
Coming out of its University Council meeting last Friday, the UWI announced that
The Most Honourable Dodridge D. Miller, FB, FCCA, MBA, LL.M, LLD (Hon)
has been appointed as its 7th Chancellor—the highest office-holder in The UWI
system. Now formally Chancellor-Designate, Dr Miller is expected to serve a
seven-year term beginning August 1, 2024. Chancellor Bermudez has served as in
the since 2017.
At its virtual annual business meeting held on Friday, April 26, members of the
University Council accepted the recommendation of the Chancellor’s Search
Committee to appoint Dr Miller. As the sole authority that has the power to make
decisions related to the leadership of the regional institution, the University
Council is responsible for appointing the new Chancellor in accordance with
established statutes and processes outlined in the University's Statute 4.
Dr Miller, a graduate of The UWI, is a Caribbean luminary with over 30 years of
leadership experience in the banking, insurance, and financial services sectors. He
was the Group President and CEO of Sagicor Financial Company for more than
two decades until he retired in March 2023.
Dr Miller is globally recognised as the chief architect of Sagicor Financial, the
largest financial services conglomerate in the region. He is credited with
transforming the old Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society into the Sagicor
Caribbean group, and with strategic USA and Canadian investments, into the
global corporation it is today. As a determined regionalist, he
expanded Sagicor's operations in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Organization
of Eastern Caribbean States, and the Bahamas, and created a pan-Caribbean
identity for the company.
Dr Miller is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
(FCCA). He holds an MBA from the University of Wales and the Manchester
Business School, and an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from The UWI,
where he also served as a member of the Cave Hill Campus Council.
He has received several prestigious honours in his distinguished career, including
the Order of Freedom of Barbados (FB), and from The UWI, an Honorary Doctor
of Laws degree in 2008 and the award of the tittle, Professor of Practice in 2019.
Upon the confirmation of his appointment, Dr Miller responded, “It is with great
humility that I accept your appointment as Chancellor of this distinguished and
important University. For most of my adult life, I have been an advocate for a
strong, vibrant UWI. As a corporate executive I demonstrated my support for your
mission and remained committed to the certainty of your path as you sought to
build the capacity of the region’s human capital. As Chancellor, I will strive to
uphold the strong principles and values of the University, and with your guidance
and support hope to contribute to the very important task of fashioning a Caribbean
that is sustainable and that can engage the rest of the world on equal terms. I look
forward to being a part of The UWI’s journey towards the continued development
of our region. I am honoured.”
In extending congratulations, Chancellor Bermudez said, “I am delighted to
welcome Dr Miller as Chancellor-Designate. It is my belief that the University will
benefit from his experience and contribution.”
Offering further details on the process, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary
Beckles, who chaired the Search Committee that recommended Dr Miller for
the post noted, “Dr the Most Honourable Dodridge Miller is an eminent corporate
transformational leader who possesses all the required skills to make an
outstanding Chancellor to his alma mater. The University community that knows
him well is looking forward to working with him in this new role.”
At the Council Meeting, Chancellor Bermudez delivered the opening remarks to
commence the proceedings. University Registrar, Dr. Maurice D. Smith then paid
tribute to Robert Bermudez for his outstanding leadership.
The University of the West Indies community expresses its profound appreciation
to Mr Bermudez for his distinguished service.
