Invest SVG, the country’s national investment promotions agency, has announced the appointment of Anna C. Young as its eighth executive director.
The agency said in a press release that Young’s appointment ushers in “a new phase of leadership that broadens the agency’s mandate beyond traditional foreign direct investment, to include strengthening local export and trade development, mobilising diaspora capital, and positioning St Vincent and the Grenadines as an attractive destination for investment from the international financial services sector”.
Young was born in Layou to Annie and Adolph Young and is the granddaughter of “Bottom Gaymes”, a press release said.
She began her professional journey as a news reporter at NBC Radio, working alongside some of the country’s top media personalities, including Chester Connell, Nichole Hadaway and the late Glen Jackson and Nina Maloney.
Additionally, she served as an information cadet at the Government Information Service (now Agency for Public Information) from 1992 to 1995.
“However, it wasn’t until she migrated to the United States to further her education [that] she fully developed her professional expertise,” Invest SVG said.
The press release said Young brings over two decades of international experience in finance and corporate strategy, holding a Master of Science in project analysis, finance & investments from the University of York, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in finance from Alabama A&M University, in the United States.
Young completed her legal education at the UWE Bristol Law School and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales by Gray’s Inn. She is also an accredited civil and commercial mediator, certified by ADR Group.
?Her career abroad includes significant roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she served as assistant vice president in finance for mass market and segments finance, a specialised group established to address and mitigate federal regulatory impacts.
She also held several positions at American Express, including leading revenue enhancement, serving as a senior investment manager, pricing and marketing capabilities manager, and senior financial analyst.
In these roles, she managed portfolios, led global revenue initiatives, and provided key decision support to senior management.
Young’s early career included an investment analyst role at Lehman Brothers, supporting senior bankers in conducting financial analysis.
“I am proud to be a Vincentian,” Young said. “My passion for excellence blossomed at an early age, being a product of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School before pursuing other endeavours in my education and career.”
She said that after living abroad for so many years and gaining most of her professional experience overseas, “nothing brings me greater joy than returning home to share my knowledge with my Vincentian people.
“There is so much potential for growth, and with the amazing team at Invest SVG, we are uniquely poised for greatness. I am humbled to serve my country.”
Young replaces former tourism minister Glen Beache, who employment at the agency ended in December.
