BIDC’s CEO retires after 35 years

The first female executive to ever lead the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) is calling it quits after almost 35 years.

Chief Executive Officer Sonja Trotman will officially go on retirement at the end of this month. She started her journey with the export promotion agency when she joined the then Barbados Export Promotion Corporation in March 1986 as a research officer.

In 1988, Trotman took up the post of marketing advisor. When the agency became the BIDC in 1992, she was then appointed research officer in the Research Division.

Trotman has served in several other capacities including that of manager of scientific research, information and designing.

On August 1, 2010, Trotman was promoted to director of export, development and promotion before officially taking up her position as CEO at the start of 2015.

During her tenure as CEO of the organisation, she has been instrumental in the launch of several projects, and through her leadership, has provided development and other assistance to more than 1, 000 clients.

During the recent BIDC’s staff awards ceremony and cocktail party at the Bagnall’s Point Gallery in Pelican Village, Trotman was recognised for her more than 34 years of service to the corporation.

Staff described the moment as a bittersweet one, stating that with her retirement a gap would be created that would be “hard to fill”.

During the event, the organisation also acknowledged the retirement of Anthea Grimes, Madaline Headley-Woodroffe and
Carmel Lyder.

BIDC employees were rewarded for their years of service at the agency, ranging from 10 to 40 years, and there were several “spotlight” awards.