Rupert Hayward
Co-Chairman, GBPA

Rupert, a Bahamian national, is the Founder and Chairman of the Blue Action Lab and Blue Action Ventures, as well as the Executive Chairman of the Blue Action Accelerator, a joint venture with Founders Factory, one of the largest venture platforms in the world. He serves as a principal and Co-Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Port Group Limited, and director of the Freeport Harbour Company, GB Shipyard, GB Utility, GB DEVCO and the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation. In addition, Rupert is an advisor to Global Harvester Holdings, a UK green merchant bank, 17 Asset Management, a NY impact investing firm, and he holds a government-appointed board seat as Vice-Chair of The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund. He also advises the University of The Bahamas on climate and resilience initiatives.

With over 25 years of international investment experience spanning emerging and developed markets, Rupert is one of the original partners at Salamanca Group, a British merchant bank. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a boutique investment advisory firm into a fully-fledged merchant bank. This transformation included the merger with S-RM, a risk consulting business, the acquisition of Investec Bank’s trust business, and the establishment of 19 offices worldwide.

In addition to his board and Executive Committee positions, Rupert led the Group’s expansion into Brazil, where he successfully established two fully operational and profitable investment advisory businesses. He also spearheaded the acquisition of a majority stake in one of Brazil’s largest privately owned real estate developers, serving as an executive director for nearly seven years. Salamanca Group was also responsible for the development of the largest smart campus development in the United Kingdom, Gravity, and the super-yacht marina in the heart of Barcelona, Marina Port Vell.  

Rupert has previously held a board position with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, an English Premier League football club. He was also a trustee and member of the investment committee for the Sir Charles Hayward Foundation.

He completed his MA (Hons) in Geography—Caribbean Development—at Edinburgh University, UK, in 2003, and holds an MBA in Sustainable Business Management from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco.