Former Republic Bank MD John Jardim dies

Former Republic Bank managing director John Joseph Jardim has died. Republic confirmed Jardim's death on Wednesday in a release published in the press on Friday and Saturday. He was 83.

"John will be remembered as a soft-spoken but firm individual, who led the bank with great tenacity and honour," Republic said. Jardim joined Barclay's bank, Republic's precursor in 1953 in Guyana, his birthplace, and was transferred to Trinidad in 1961.

In 1980, a year before Barclay's officially changed its name to Republic, Jardim was transferred to the head office and in 1984, he was appointed deputy managing director. In 1995, he was appointed managing director, a post he held until 1997, when he retired.

Jardim led the bank through take-over bids against Colonial Life Insurance Co, the flagship of the CL Financial Group led by Lawrence Duprey.

"He steered the bank through some memorable times such as the challenge by Colonial Life Insurance Co. Limited for ownership of the bank. Many will remember his firm resolve in dealing with the many facets of that matter and many others," the bank said.

The insurance giant eventually acquired a majority stake in the banking group but with the collapse and bailout by Government in 2009, both financial institutions fell under the control of the State.