--- title: Independent Directors | HighWater Cayman description: Meet the independent directors supported by HighWater Cayman, serving hedge funds, private equity and the broader alternative investment industry. --- [Skip to content](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam#main-content) [![HighWater Logo](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/highwater-w.svg)](https://www.highwater.ky/../?hsLang=en) ![mav icon](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/nav.svg) ![close mav icon](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/close.svg) - [HOME](https://www.highwater.ky?hsLang=en) - [ABOUT](https://www.highwater.ky/about?hsLang=en) - SERVICES - [DISTRESSED FUNDS](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds?hsLang=en) - [INVESTMENT MANAGERS](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers?hsLang=en) - [ANCILLARY SERVICES](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services?hsLang=en) - THE TEAM - [INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam) - [SUPPORT TEAM](https://www.highwater.ky/support-team?hsLang=en) - [CORPORATE GOVERNANCE](https://www.highwater.ky/corporate-governance?hsLang=en) - [CONTACT US](https://www.highwater.ky/contact?hsLang=en) # Independent Directors The investment funds industry is complex and highly contextual. Good corporate governance requires extensive knowledge of all relevant aspects of a fund, throughout its lifecycle. ### Extensive and relevant industry experience **The Necessary Experience** ## Our professional team [Enquire about our services](https://www.highwater.ky/contact?hsLang=en) The independent directors supported by HighWater bring the necessary diverse management and advisory experience gained from decades of work in the trenches – including finance, due diligence, investment management, fund administration, audit and fund regulation backgrounds. All of the independent directors have held senior and high profile roles in the fund industry. The Cayman-based independent directors play leading roles in the development and promotion of the Cayman Islands’ financial services industry, and have participated actively on the Cayman Islands Fund Administrators Association, the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants, the Cayman Chapter of AIMA and Cayman Finance. All of the independent directors are active industry commentators and are frequently called upon to speak at industry events and write articles for hedge fund publications. The independent directors are supported by a high quality team of corporate administrators that are experienced professionals with backgrounds that include former regulators, fund administrators and professional accountants in the Cayman funds industry. In addition, HighWater also employs professionals to support information systems and office infrastructure, compliance and finance. ![Gary Linford of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Gary%20Linford%20.jpeg) #### Gary Linford Founder [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/gary-linford?hsLang=en) Office: [1-345-640-2279](tel:1-345-640-2279) Direct: [1-345-640-2295](tel:1-345-640-2295) Mobile: [1-345-526-2295](tel:1-345-526-2295) Email: [gary@highwater.ky](mailto:gary@highwater.ky) ![Mark Fagan of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Mark.jpg) #### Mark Fagan Partner [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/mark-fagan?hsLang=en) Office: [1-345-640-2279](tel:1-345-640-2279) Direct: [1-345-640-2285](tel:1-345-640-2285) Mobile: [1-345-526-9592](tel:1-345-526-9592) Email: [mark@highwater.ky](mailto:mark@highwater.ky) ![Stacey Kirkconnell of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Stacey-1.jpeg) #### Stacey Kirkconnell Partner [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/stacey-kirkconnell?hsLang=en) Office: [1-345-640-2276](tel:1-345-640-2276) Direct: [1-345-640-2276](tel:1-345-640-2276) Mobile: [1-345-323-0151](tel:1-345-323-0151) Email: [stacey@highwater.ky](mailto:stacey@highwater.ky) ![Yolanda-1](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Yolanda-1.jpeg) #### Yolanda Banks McCoy Partner [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/yolanda-banks-mccoy?hsLang=en) Office: [1-345-640-2279](tel:1-345-640-2279) Direct: [1-345-640-2269](tel:1-345-640-2269) Mobile: [1-345-525-0620](tel:1-345-525-0620) Email: [yolanda@highwater.ky](mailto:yolanda@highwater.ky) ![John Lewis of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/1.jpg) #### John Lewis Director [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/john-lewis?hsLang=en) Office: [1-345-640-2279](tel:1-345-640-2279) Direct: [1-345-640-2290](tel:1-345-640-2290) Mobile: [1-345-525-2295](tel:1-345-525-2295) ![Matt Auriemma of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Matt%20Auriemma%20.jpg) #### Matt Auriemma Director [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/matt-auriemma?hsLang=en) Office: [1-917-776-7119](tel:1-917-776-7119) Email: [matt@highwater.ky](mailto:matt@highwater.ky) ![Todd Groome of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-6.jpg) #### Todd Groome Director [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/todd-groome?hsLang=en) Office: [1-703-938-2662](tel:1-703-938-2662) Direct: [1-703-966-3690](tel:1-703-966-3690) Email: [todd@highwater.ky](mailto:todd@highwater.ky) ![Nick Tappin of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-9.jpg) #### Nick Tappin Director [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/nick-tappin?hsLang=en) Mobile: [41-79-571-5461](tel:41-79-571-5461) Email: [nick@highwater.ky](mailto:nick@highwater.ky) ![Mike Anderson of Highwater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Mike%20Anderson.png) #### Mike Anderson [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/mike-anderson?hsLang=en) Office: [+13456402279](tel:+13456402279) Direct: [+13456402271](tel:+13456402271) Mobile: [+13459264122](tel:+13459264122) Email: [mike@highwater.ky](mailto:mike@highwater.ky) ![Sandra ](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/1W8A8961%20Sandy-1.jpeg) #### Sandra "Sandy" Cram [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/sandy-cram?hsLang=en) Office: [+13456402279](tel:+13456402279) Direct: [+13456402286](tel:+13456402286) Mobile: [+13455258172](tel:+13455258172) Email: [sandy@highwater.ky](mailto:sandy@highwater.ky) ![Steve Ali of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/1W8A9039-1-1.jpeg) #### Steve Ali [View profile](https://www.highwater.ky/staff-member/steve-ali?hsLang=en) Office: [+13456402279](tel:+13456402279) Direct: [+13456402268](tel:+13456402268) Mobile: [+13453242375](tel:+13453242375) Email: [steve@highwater.ky](mailto:steve@highwater.ky) ## See what we can do for your company [Get in touch](https://www.highwater.ky/contact?hsLang=en) Learn more about the Directors, our support services and how we can help.  [Get in touch](https://www.highwater.ky/contact?hsLang=en) ## What we do ![HW-43](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/HW-43.jpg) **Independent Directors** Institutional investors should require independent directors who have relevant industry expertise and who will fulfill their fiduciary duties in the best interests of the fund and its investors. In an industry of growing complexity and increased regulation, investors and managers seek directors who will make a genuine contribution and not shy away from difficult decisions. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services?hsLang=en) ![highwater-team-sq](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/highwater-team-sq.png) **Distressed Funds** Distressed funds can find themselves without the appropriate independent board of directors to guide them through a restructuring process, an orderly realisation of assets, or a voluntary liquidation. This is where the directors supported by HighWater excel. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds?hsLang=en) ![HW-114](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/HW-114.jpeg) **Investment Managers** As a stepping stone to setting up a permanent office, we assist investment fund managers to establish a physical presence in the Cayman Islands, working closely with onshore legal counsel, tax and regulatory advisors. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers?hsLang=en) ![HW-6](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/HW-6.jpg) **Ancillary Services** HighWater supports the independent directors by offering a range of ancillary services to the alternative investment funds industry. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services?hsLang=en) ![highwater-w](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/highwater-w.svg) ###### Address BritCay House, 2nd Floor, 236 Eastern Avenue, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands ###### Services - [Distressed Funds](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds) - [Investment Managers](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers) - [Ancillary Services](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services) ###### Useful Resources - [Independent Directors](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services) - [Meet the Directors](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam) - [Support Team](https://www.highwater.ky/support-team) ###### Contact Us ![phone](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/phone.svg)[1-345-640-2279](tel:+%201%20345%20640%202279) ![email](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/email.svg)[info@highwater.ky](mailto:info@highwater.ky) © 2026 HighWater. 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