Two women will share the managing director roles at the Meritus Trust Company Limited.

Sara Schroter, managing director, corporate & general counsel, will lead the corporate functions and governance, while Gina Pereira, managing director, client & fiduciary stewardship, will lead the client side of the business.

The company said the women make a dynamic pair, offering the best of both worlds, as they have proven track records of excelling in their areas of expertise.

Sara was the first female Chartered Director in Bermuda, and Gina was awarded the prestigious STEP Private Client Award, a press statement said.

Company co-founder Michelle Wolfe, steps into a new role as chair and family counsel, while stepping back from the day-to-day administration, but providing higher-level strategic input.

She said: “I’m now in a role where I can provide the most value to our clients, and we are primed to serve their expanding needs, with a wider breadth of expertise.

“With Sara and Gina at the helm, Meritus is ready for the future and leading the way with strong people and strong commitments.”

Ms Pereira said: “We believe living with purpose is about taking ownership of the impact of our decisions on all stakeholders and giving back in many ways – through philanthropy, mentoring, and training.

“We’re doing our part to help develop the next-gen of Bermudian trust professionals. Several members of our team are under 30, including an intern.

“Besides teaching them, it is critical that we empower each of them to grow to their full potential.”

Meritus was named #4 in the most recent RG Business Top 10 Bermuda Employers of the Year Awards, which the company attributed to inclusivity and putting employees first.

A corporate statement at the time said to be successful in the trust business requires, apart from expertise in trust structures, the sensitivity and emotional intelligence to connect with client families and to help them carry out the intention of their legacies through generations.

Ms Schroter said: “Diversity is a central part of our culture and how we work at Meritus. We believe our differences make us stronger together. We use our collective perspectives to close gaps and drive inclusion – in our office, with our families, around our community and the globe. We believe that inclusivity is the catalyst for a lot of positive things.”

Also promoted are Barbara Patterson to senior client director, Mairi Redmond to fiduciary director, and Dorothy Gazzard to fiduciary director.

The company statement added: “Diversity and Inclusion has (finally) dominated the conversation in companies and boardrooms worldwide over the past year or so. Organisations are talking about it and even creating initiatives that “speak” to it, but few are truly practising what they preach.

“In our community, as diverse as we are, there are far too few women at the senior level and even fewer Bermudians of colour in the top leadership positions.

“This is why the news at Meritus Trust, promoting two Bermudian women to the role of co-Managing Directors, is so significant.”