Geoff Ruddick

Area of expertise

• Corporate governance
• Independent directorships, advisory, governance committees, valuation committees
• Alternative investments - hedge/private equity and credit/venture capital/real estate funds
• Compliance, anti-money laundering
• Financial services and fund operations
• Accounting, audit and administration

Responsibilities

Geoff is the Managing Director and Country Head of Hawksford’s Cayman Islands business, which provides effective governance and fiduciary services to the investment funds industry. He serves as a director, governance/advisory committee member on alternative investment funds and special purpose vehicles. Prior to Hawksford, Geoff was a founding Partner of Paradigm Governance Partners Limited.

Previously, he was employed by International Management Services Ltd., where he held various senior positions, including Director, Head of Funds, and Senior Company Manager. Before that, he served as Managing Director of HedgeWorks Fund Services Ltd. (now Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited) and was a Director and Compliance Officer with Derivatives Portfolio Management Ltd. (now DPM Mellon Limited).

Geoff began his career with KPMG in Vancouver, auditing mutual funds, banks, and insurance companies, before transferring to KPMG in the Cayman Islands, where he worked in the Corporate Recovery department, focusing on the liquidation of hedge funds and other regulated entities. His extensive experience in the financial services sector spans governance, compliance, and fund management, making him a highly respected professional in the industry.   

Qualifications and memberships

• CFA Charterholder and Member of the CFA institute
• Canadian Chartered Accountant ‘CA/CPA’ British Columbia
• Accredited Director – Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Canada
• Member and Fellow of the International Compliance Association (FICA)
• Member of Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants
• Professional Director registered pursuant to the Cayman Islands Directors Registration and Licensing Act

Notable achievements

• Founding member of Cayman Islands Directors Association
• Founding member of the Recovery & Insolvency Specialists (Cayman) Association
• Award of Excellence in the Canadian Securities Institute’s (CSI) Canadian Securities Course (CSC)
• Global Director and Executive Committee Member of Hedge Funds Care (now Help for Children), prior Director & Chair of the Hedge Funds Care Cayman, prior Chair of the Committee of Hearts and Co-Chair of the Grant Committee
• Prior Director of the Cayman Islands Red Cross
• Past Trustee of the Cayman Islands Chamber Pension Plan
• Past President of the CFA Society of the Cayman Islands