Open to opportunities

Desmond Cooper

@desmondcooper

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Senior compliance and operations leader building audit-ready regulatory frameworks.

Bahamas

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What I'm looking for

I’m seeking a senior compliance or regulatory leadership role where I can own audit-ready governance, strengthen AML/KYC controls, manage multi-stakeholder relationships, and drive operational compliance with strategic precision and board-level confidence.

I’m a senior executive with 30+ years leading compliance and operations across five regulated industries—government legal services, international maritime operations, financial services, regulated retail, and tourism. I combine deep cross-sector operational experience with a legal foundation and ongoing professional development, bringing a governance-first mindset to every audit, review, and stakeholder interaction.

My track record is built on creating and maintaining compliance frameworks that regulators can trust. I’m known for strengthening internal controls, supporting KYC/CDD/EDD and AML/CFT objectives, and ensuring systems remain audit-ready across complex, scrutinized environments.

In regulated settings, I’ve owned end-to-end compliance strategy and operational governance: directing regulatory liaison, managing licensing and renewal cycles, and designing complete audit trails of contracts, records, and regulatory correspondence. I’ve also conducted structured corporate due diligence prior to formalising partnerships, and I lead teams through clear procedures that reduce reporting discrepancies and compliance gaps.

I’m available to lead compliance, regulatory affairs, governance, or senior operations functions—locally or internationally. With an AML Certificate awarded with Distinction, active legal studies, and deep knowledge of the Bahamian regulatory environment, I bring strategic oversight, operational precision, and board-level stakeholder confidence.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Compliance & Regulatory Manager

Limbo Adventures

Jan 2021 - Jan 2025 (4 years)

Directed full regulatory compliance strategy for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism framework, managing licensing, permits, safety standards, and ongoing government liaison. Conducted corporate due diligence and maintained an audit-ready trail of contracts and regulatory correspondence while overseeing governance, vendor contracts, risk assessment, and renewal cycles.

Regulatory Compliance Governance Due Diligence Risk Assessment Permits Contract Management

Senior Operations & Compliance

Balduccino Fine Wines

Jan 2012 - Jan 2015 (3 years)

Led operational and compliance functions for a premium retail and distribution business in a heavily regulated environment. Negotiated supplier contracts aligned to regulatory obligations, implemented compliance controls that reduced reporting discrepancies, and trained staff on regulatory standards and internal procedures.

Operational Compliance Regulatory Internal Controls Inventory Compliance

Operations & Regulatory Oversight

Premium Wines & Spirits

Jan 2007 - Jan 2011 (4 years)

Oversaw retail and wholesale distribution operations within a licensed, highly regulated trading environment while building audit-ready operational and financial reporting systems. Identified and remediated compliance gaps across the supply chain and managed regulatory body relationships for uninterrupted compliance reviews and licensing renewals.

Regulatory Audit Readiness Operational Reporting Compliance Remediation Supplier Risk Management Renewals

Yacht Manager / Owner's Rep

Kennedy Yacht Management

Jan 2000 - Jan 2007 (7 years)

Directed international maritime compliance operations for M/Y Unforgettable (150ft) and M/Y Bart Roberts (265ft) across multiple jurisdictions. Managed global documentation—port clearances, flag-state compliance, crew certification, and customs requirements—maintaining zero compliance breaches while serving as the primary executive liaison to ownership, registries, authorities, and regulators.

Flag State Compliance Customs Documentation Crew Certification Audit Readiness

Law Clerk & Legal Records Librarian

Office of the Attorney General

Jan 1991 - Jan 1996 (5 years)

Served directly under the Director of Legal Affairs, conducting case research, preparing court filings, and assisting senior counsel on civil and criminal matters. Produced legal correspondence and managed classified legal records and the in-house law library, cataloguing statutes, case law, and legal texts to support government policy and legislative drafting.

Legal Research Court Filing Legal Documentation Statute & Case Law Cataloging Records Management Compliance Documentation