Sir Kyffin Simpson
Mega Caribbean
Entrepreneur
Sir Kyffin Donald Simpson, KA, CBE
Businessman, Barbados
Sir Kyffin Simpson was born on 29
September, 1942 in the eastern
parish of St. John. He completed his
secondary education in Barbados
at the Lodge School and went on to
the UK to continue his studies.
On his return home in Barbados,
he worked in several different
industries, including in retail, which
prepared him for his future in the
commercial world. Simpson has a
natural affinity for people which
endears him to everyone who
comes into contact with him. His
love of cars propelled him to take
advantage of the opportunity to
manage several gas stations in the
early 1970’s and this provided a
platform of development for the
industry that he grew into.
When the door opened to own a
small and failing Volkswagen and
then Mercedes car dealership, he
grasped the opportunity and made
a success of it.
During the Energy Crisis of
1973/1974, Simpson realized that
there was a need for a fuel-efficient
and cost-effective vehicle as an
alternative. He also recognized that
there was a large entrepreneurial
class of Barbadians who were not
able to afford a vehicle for their
businesses. He took a leap of faith
and travelled to Japan to persuade
a relatively new player -- Suzuki
Motor Company -- to export
Suzuki for the first time to this
hemisphere. This relationship led
Suzuki Motor Company to establish
a successful presence in the entire
Caribbean region, and parts of
North, South and Central America.
In 1976, Simpson founded
Simpson Motors and this has laid
the groundwork for the group of
companies that exists today and
which represents such brands as
Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Mercedes,
Chrysler, Porsche, John Deere, JCB
and Ingersoll Rand/Bobcat with a
regional network from Bermuda in
the north to Guyana in the south
and from Central America in the
west to Barbados in the east.
In 2005, Simpson Oil Limited (SOL),
an affiliate of Interamericana
Trading Corporation, headed
by Simpson, made a buy-out of
the retail and commercial fuel
operations of Shell Antilles &
Guiana’s Limited, making it the
largest independent oil company
in the Caribbean. In 2006, SOL
acquired Shell’s marketing and
retail assets in Puerto Rico, building
this network even further. In
September 2007, SOL acquired
additional stations from Exxon
Mobil in Guyana, Suriname and
76 SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle
Haiti, thus giving SOL one-third of
the market in the 15 countries it
now operates.
He also has in his portfolio a Mega
Farm in Guyana and car dealerships
in Europe.
In addition to being Chairman of
the Simpson Group of Companies,
Simpson has served as director
and shareholder of several major
corporations, including a charter
director of the FirstCaribbean
International Bank. He is also
a member of the Board of the
prestigious Americas Society and
Council of the Americas whose
mission is to promote awareness of
the political, cultural and economic
challenges currently facing the
Western Hemisphere.
In 1999, Simpson was awarded the
title of Master Entrepreneur by
Ernst and Young.
In 2004, he was awarded the
Commander of the British Empire
(CBE) by Her Majesty and an
Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree
(LLD) from the University of the
West Indies.
www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019