Gloria McField-Nixon Named Cayman's First Woman Deputy Governor

Gloria McField-Nixon has been sworn in as the Deputy Governor and Head of the Cayman Islands Civil Service, becoming the first woman to hold the country's second-highest constitutional office. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Cabinet on 8 July, marking a historic milestone for the Cayman Islands and a significant leadership transition following the retirement of long-serving Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Her appointment reflects the government's continued commitment to strengthening public sector leadership and modernising the civil service.

Key Highlights:

• Gloria McField-Nixon becomes the Cayman Islands' first woman Deputy Governor
• She brings nearly 30 years of senior public sector leadership experience
• She succeeds Franz Manderson following his retirement after 44 years of service

Governor Jane Owen congratulated McField-Nixon on assuming the role, praising her professionalism, extensive public service experience, and vision for the future of the civil service. She said the new Deputy Governor has clear plans to support government employees while preparing the organisation to meet future challenges. Governor Owen also acknowledged the lasting contribution of outgoing Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and expressed confidence in working closely with McField-Nixon to deliver effective public services for the people of the Cayman Islands.

McField-Nixon brings nearly 30 years of senior public sector experience to the position, including more than 20 years as a Chief Officer across several government ministries. Most recently, she served as Chief Officer in the Portfolio of the Civil Service, where she led government-wide human resource policy, public sector reform, and corporate governance initiatives. She was selected through a rigorous and transparent recruitment process chaired by the Governor.

Throughout her career, McField-Nixon has held leadership roles in ministries responsible for finance and tourism and has regularly served as Acting Deputy Governor in recent years. A communications graduate and qualified lawyer admitted to the Cayman Bar in 2012, she progressed to the role of Chief Officer within nine years of returning to the Cayman Islands after completing her university education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, McField-Nixon played a key role in ensuring the continuity of essential public services. Her leadership during the crisis earned her the Certificate and Badge of Honour, while her team received the UK's Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) People Team of the Year (Public Sector) Award. She was also recognised with the Cayman Islands Society for Human Resource Professionals' Pinnacle Award for HR Leadership in 2025.

Speaking after taking the oath of office, McField-Nixon described the appointment as both a personal achievement and a shared milestone with the many civil servants who had supported her throughout her career. She reaffirmed her commitment to building on the strong foundation established by previous leaders and expressed gratitude for the encouragement she had received.

As the first woman to serve as Deputy Governor, McField-Nixon said she hopes her appointment inspires young women and girls to pursue leadership roles and careers where women remain underrepresented. She succeeds Franz Manderson, who retired after 44 years in the civil service, including 14 years as Deputy Governor. McField-Nixon has also appointed Lauren Knight, formerly Deputy Chief Officer for Strategic Operations and Governance, as the new Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service.