The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) is undergoing a strategic transformation by adopting an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) model designed to attract high-value foreign direct investment and generate tangible economic outcomes. Under the leadership of newly appointed Managing Director Kendaree Burgess, the organization is repositioning itself to drive business incorporations, create jobs, and strengthen Bermuda's global investment landscape.
Burgess, who joined the BDA in March 2023 as Chief Operating Officer with over 25 years of executive experience across financial services, hospitality, and healthcare sectors, has been instrumental in streamlining operations and setting a clear path for the agency's transition to an IPA model focused on measurable results. The new approach prioritizes targeted market engagement and strategic partnerships, with key leadership additions including David Parker as Head of Business Development and Simone Gibbons as Head of Marketing, Communications & Events.
A novel role of Stakeholder Relationship Manager, filled by Olivia Joell, has been created to deepen engagement with local industries and encourage reinvestment. Burgess emphasized that the IPA model will concentrate on sectors with the highest potential to diversify Bermuda's economy and advance the government's economic development strategy. The agency plans to focus on attracting investments that create meaningful opportunities for Bermuda's residents and demonstrate transparent, concrete results.
BDA Board member Susan Pateras highlighted the collaborative nature of this transformation, noting that successful investment promotion requires close cooperation with government and local stakeholders. The agency aims to create an environment conducive to business growth and economic expansion. By redirecting its focus to actionable, data-driven strategies, the Bermuda Business Development Agency is positioning itself to attract foreign direct investment that leverages the island's unique strengths and supports long-term economic development.
For HR vendors and talent management professionals, this strategic shift signals potential new business opportunities in Bermuda's evolving economic landscape. The agency's focus on creating jobs and driving business incorporations suggests increased demand for HR services, recruitment solutions, and talent management systems as new investments materialize. The emphasis on sectors with high diversification potential may create specialized talent needs that vendors can address through targeted solutions.
The creation of the Stakeholder Relationship Manager role indicates a structured approach to engaging local industries, potentially opening channels for HR vendors to partner with the BDA in workforce development initiatives. The agency's data-driven approach to investment promotion may generate valuable market intelligence about emerging skill requirements and employment trends that vendors can leverage in their product development and market strategies.
As Bermuda positions itself more competitively for foreign investment through organizations like the Bermuda Business Development Agency, HR vendors should monitor developments in target sectors to identify service gaps and partnership opportunities. The agency's transparent, results-oriented approach may establish new benchmarks for measuring economic impact that could influence how HR services are evaluated in similar jurisdictions worldwide.
