WILLEMSTAD – Effective July 1, José Jardim will become the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Banco di Caribe. The bank confirmed the appointment following official approval by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). 

Jardim’s appointment marks the end of his eight-year tenure at CBCS, where he has been a board member since 2017. 

Banco di Caribe has been wholly owned by United Group Holdings since 2022. The group is led by Curaçaoan businessman Gregory Elias, and under its ownership, the bank has been repositioning itself as a modern financial institution both locally and regionally. 

Jardim brings with him a wealth of experience in public financial governance. He served as Minister of Finance for Curaçao between 2012 and 2016, where he led the island’s post-dissolution financial recovery following the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles. At the Central Bank, he was responsible for financial and economic supervision as well as monetary policy. 

His appointment follows a significant restructuring process at Banco di Caribe. After its separation from the former Ennia Group under United Group’s leadership, the bank has focused on reestablishing its position in the financial sector. With Jardim, the bank gains a leader with deep-rooted expertise in both public and private financial systems in Curaçao. 

In its official announcement, Banco di Caribe described the appointment as a strategic choice for “proven leadership with relevant experience and acknowledged capabilities.” United Group’s Gregory Elias has previously emphasized the importance of strengthening financial trust in the region through independent banking institutions. 

Jardim will officially assume his new role on July 1. His successor at the Central Bank has not yet been announced.