FORTY under 40: Harvey Gowers
Harvey Gowers, director, KPMG Cayman Islands.
Harvey Gowers began his career with KPMG UK in 2010, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2013. In 2014, he moved to KPMG in the Cayman Islands, where he currently serves as an audit director specialising in captive insurance and reinsurance.
How did you first become involved in captive insurance?
I had some experience of captives from my time with KPMG in the UK, however I really started focusing on the industry after I moved to Cayman. As the largest financial services firm in the Cayman Islands, KPMG gave me invaluable exposure to a wide variety of captives and my interest in the industry grew from there.
What are the greatest challenges of working in this industry, and what do you find most rewarding?
Cayman is home to a very large number of captives, each having a unique structure and requiring local audit sign-off. That means our busy season can be intense as we manage multiple ongoing audits and deadlines. However, the most rewarding aspect has been becoming a trusted adviser to my clients and developing relationships both with talented professionals in the local industry and with captive owners around the world.
The captive sector has multiple entry paths – including accounting, actuarial and legal – all solid foundations for long-term professional growth and specialisation
Would you recommend the captive insurance industry to young people as a future career path?
Definitely. The captive insurance industry offers some excellent career opportunities for young professionals interested in financial services. It's a dynamic and growing sector with multiple entry paths – including accounting, actuarial and legal – all solid foundations for long-term professional growth and specialisation.
What developments do you see ahead for captives?
I expect we’ll see continued growth in the captive insurance industry, particularly in specialised lines such as catastrophe, cyber and professional liability where obtaining commercial insurance is becoming increasingly challenging (and expensive). In the Cayman market, I think we'll see expanded use of segregated portfolio and group captive structures to deliver more tailored insurance and reinsurance solutions.
Do you think your long-term future remains in the captives market?
Absolutely. Captives remain a critical component of the Cayman Islands' financial services industry as well as the wider local economy. Licence numbers are growing, as is the demand for high-quality and experienced local service providers. Having spent most of my career to date in the sector, I'm committed to continuing to serve KPMG’s captive clients in the years ahead.
Click here to read Captive International’s third FORTY Under 40 2025 publication.
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