Sygnus co-founder Ike Johnson to step down as COO

Sygnus Capital Group Ltd says co-founder Dr Ike Johnson will leave his post as executive vice-president and chief operating officer (COO) on December 31, ending a decade in the senior ranks of the Caribbean alternative investment firm.

Dr Johnson will also leave the boards of two JSE-listed affiliates, Sygnus Credit Investments Ltd (SCI) and Sygnus Real Estate Finance Ltd, on the same date. He will remain a shareholder and a board member of the group and its subsidiaries, the company said.

The board has approved a transition plan under which his executive responsibilities will pass to the group’s leadership team under existing governance and succession arrangements. The company did not name a successor.

“As a co-founder, Ike has been an integral part of the Sygnus story from inception, helping to shape the organisation’s growth, ambition and regional impact,” said Berisford Grey, co-founder, president and chief executive. “We are grateful for his many contributions and the role he has played over the last 10 years in building the leading Caribbean alternative investment platform.”

The company credited Dr Johnson with helping shape its corporate strategy and regional expansion, and with advancing its private equity and real estate platforms.

Dr Johnson said he was “incredibly proud of what we have built”. He said he would support Sygnus “in a more limited capacity, while pursuing other ventures and opportunities”.

Before helping to found Sygnus, Dr Johnson worked at Scotia Investments Jamaica Ltd. He holds a PhD in finance from the University of Manchester and is a CFA charterholder.

Sygnus has deployed more than US$700 million in alternative investments across the Caribbean and internationally. It operates in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, and the United States. In 2024, the group said it managed about US$500 million in alternative assets and set a target of US$1 billion within two to three years. SCI, its private credit vehicle, reported total assets of US$251.53 million for the year ended June 30.

business@gleanerjm.com