Steven Gooden is the Founder and Principal of White River Capital Inc, a private equity and real estate outfit. For 10 years leading up to September 2023, he was the Chief Executive Officer of NCB Capital Markets Ltd. Under his leadership, the entity became a leading investment house in the Caribbean, having significantly expanded its footprint via the establishment of strategic hubs in the Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana.
Steven’s ascent to executive leadership began at the age of 26 when he assumed the role of General Manager at one of Jamaica's prominent fund management companies. Between 2017 and 2023, he served as the President of the Jamaica Securities Dealers Association (JSDA), presiding over an era marked by unprecedented growth and progress within Jamaica’s capital markets.
A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, Steven has a Master of Science degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Southampton and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. He has also participated in executive development programs covering strategy, change Leadership and mergers & acquisitions.
In 2023, the Government of Jamaica appointed Steven as Chairman of the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA) and as a director of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA). He is also a director of the Mona School of Business and Management at UWI, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Ltd, TransJamaican Highway Ltd. Additionally, he is chairman of the boards for Elite Diagnostics Ltd and Limnars & Bards Ltd.