Grant Gibbons is a Bermudian politician and a former Leader of the Opposition in Bermuda.

Early life and education

Gibbons, was born in Bermuda on 3 July 1952, the son of E. Graham and Ida Gibbons. He was educated at Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda. A graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, Dr. Gibbons received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Brown University in 1974. He attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar from 1974 to 1976 and was awarded a master of arts in philosophy, politics and economics from that institution. Dr. Gibbons then studied organic chemistry at Harvard University, from which he received a Ph.D. in 1982. At Harvard University, Dr. Gibbons worked under Nobel Laureate, Professor R. B. Woodward. He also served as a teaching fellow from 1976 to 1981 and a research fellow from 1981 to 1982. Between 1982 and 1987, Dr. Gibbons held various management positions in marketing, planning and licensing at Squibb Corporation (now Bristol-Myers Squibb) before being appointed Director of International Licensing.   

Career

Gibbons returned to Bermuda in 1987 and took up responsibilities as managing director of Gibbons Company, Ltd. and Peniston Brown Co., Ltd. He also held directorships in various Gibbons Group Companies, Perfumeries Distributors, Ltd., and the Bank of Bermuda. Currently, Dr. Gibbons is the deputy chairman of the Colonial Insurance Group of companies.  He is also a director of Gibbons Group companies, and serves as a director on a number of other private and public company boards, including General Maritime Corporation (NYSE – GMR) and Syncora Holdings Ltd.  

In 1993, Dr. Gibbons was appointed campaign chairman for the United Bermuda Party, and he is credited with managing the party’s victory in the October 1993 general election. In January 1994, he was appointed Senator and Minister of Management and Technology in the United Bermuda Party government led by then Premier, the Hon. Sir John Swan, with responsibility for overseeing the closure of Bermuda’s military bases, managing the transfer of airport operations and the future development of the base lands. During this period, he also had responsibility for the Telecommunications portfolio and led the policy change that introduced competition into the Bermuda telecommunications market in June 1995.  

In July 1994, Dr. Gibbons was elected to the House of Assembly following a by-election in the Paget East constituency and reappointed to his former portfolio. In August 1995, he was appointed Minister of Finance in the Cabinet of then Premier, the Hon. David Saul, and he served in that position until November 1998, when the Progressive Labour Party formed a new government following the general election. As Minister of Finance, Dr. Gibbons had responsibility for the Bermuda Government’s fiscal policy, annual budgets and the regulation of financial services and insurance sectors on the Island. Following the 1998 election Dr. Gibbons continued to serve as a Member of Parliament from Paget East and as Shadow Finance Minister. He served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Bermuda Parliament from 1998 until 2006. In October 2001, Dr. Gibbons was elected Leader of the United Bermuda Party and was appointed Opposition Leader, a position he held until January 2006. His record of public service includes membership on the Education Planning Team #2; the Bermuda College Board of Governors (1988 to 1993); the Government Employees Health Insurance Management Committee (1989); the Public Service Commission (1990 to 1992); and the Marine Resources Board (1992 to 1994). Dr. Gibbons is a former chairman of the Sales Division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, a former vice president of the Chamber and a former member of the Executive Committee. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Brown University. 

Personal life

Dr. Gibbons and his wife, Kathryn, married in 1983. They have two children: Graham, born in 1986, and Andrew, born in 1987.