A former finance minister of Mauritius has been appointed to a leadership position at Apex Group Ltd, the Bermudian-based global financial services provider.

The company said Rama Sithanen will take on the role of independent director and chairman of Apex Group companies in Mauritius, effective March 31.

Apex companies in Mauritius consist of Apex Financial Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Apex Fund Services (Mauritius) Ltd and Apex Fund and Corporate Services (Mauritius) Ltd.

Dr Sithanen will chair the board, the executive committee and any other relevant committees including CSR (corporate social responsibility), Apex said.

He will also be responsible for providing strategic support to the leadership team, and will engage with policymakers and industry bodies on issues related to the industry and to the Apex Group entities, the company said.

Apex said Dr Sithanen was minister of finance between 1991 and 1995 and was instrumental in shaping policies to diversify the economy and laying the foundation for the emergence of Mauritius as an international financial centre.

Dr Sithanen was deputy prime minister and minister of finance between 2005 and 2010. Apex said he introduced bold institutional, policy and fiscal reforms that transformed the economy and moved Mauritius from dependence on trade preferences to global competitiveness.

Dr Sithanen was chairman and director of International Financial Services between 2011 and 2016 and chairman and director of Sanne Mauritius between 2017 and 2022.

Apex launched its business in Mauritius in 2006, it said, combining an experienced local team and fully integrated technology which results in a fast and efficient service in all areas of the global fund administration business.

The group’s presence in Mauritius has grown to employ more than 1,200 people following the acquisition of Sanne Group and it services over $200 billion of client assets.