Robert A. Williams (Senior Partner & CEO)
Robert is an experienced leader in international banking with over 20 years of experience at The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank). He has excelled in roles including CEO in Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, and has managed Scotiabank's Central American franchise. His expertise extends across risk management, treasury, wealth management, corporate banking, and general management. Robert’s strategic impact was significant in overseeing Scotiabank’s CAD 83 billion wholesale banking portfolio while serving as senior vice president of international corporate and commercial banking, based in Toronto, Canada.
Complementing his banking career, Robert has contributed to corporate governance through board roles in multiple countries. He was a board member and strategy committee member for Junior Achievement Americas Region (2012–2019), aiding in the education of young people in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. As chairman of the board for United Way Dominican Republic (2016–2019), he spearheaded the launch of educational initiatives for children. Robert currently serves as vice chair on the Center for Global Business Advisory Board at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business (2023–present), where he mentors and occasionally lectures students on international business, leadership, and change management.
His academic credentials include a BScE from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, and a Master of Laws (Honours) from the University of Liverpool, earning Law Student of the Year in 2019 . He was also selected to participate in Scotiabank's first cohort of its Executive Management Program focused on Leadership and Change Management, designed by Duke University. Additionally, Robert holds certifications as a full-stack web developer from the University of Toronto and in artificial intelligence from the University of Oxford.
Stephen Guthrie (Senior Partner)
Stephen is an international banking executive with more than 35 years of experience across Corporate & Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Commercial Banking, and international financial services leadership. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles across Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean, with extensive experience leading large banking platforms, executing strategic transformations, and managing complex cross-border operations.
During his career at Scotiabank, Stephen served as Senior Vice President & Head of Global Banking and Markets for the Bank’s International Business Banking franchise across 20 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In this role, he oversaw Corporate & Investment Banking, Global Capital Markets, and Commercial Banking operations with responsibility for more than 2,000 employees and approximately USD 90 billion in loan assets. Prior to this role, he led Global Banking & Markets in Chile, where he played a key role in the acquisition and integration of BBVA Chile into Scotiabank’s operations. He also previously served as Regional Head of Business Banking for Central America, overseeing operations across Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
In 2024, Stephen joined Canadian Western Bank Executive Vice President & Head of Personal and Commercial Banking, where he led a nationwide banking platform of more than 800 professionals across Canada. He subsequently led the transition and integration of the business following the acquisition of Canadian Western Bank by National Bank of Canada.
Stephen currently serves as Senior Partner at Cardinton, advising boards, shareholders, and executive management teams on strategic transformation, financing strategy, capital structure, and growth initiatives. He has also served on multiple corporate and institutional boards across the Americas. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen's University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder through the CFA Institute. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Collaborative Experts
CARDINTON's “Collaborative Experts” are a select group of seasoned professionals, each with a unique set of skills and expertise, whom we engage on an as-needed basis to drive key initiatives and projects. We tap into their deep, industry-specific knowledge to devise tailored solutions that precisely address our clients' needs. Their involvement is carefully curated, ensuring their expertise aligns seamlessly with the specific requirements of each project, thereby guaranteeing the highest standard of specialized support and insight.
Collaborative Partners
CARDINTON’s “Collaborative Partners” are select firms, ranging from law and accounting practices to creative agencies and specialized consultancies, that work with us to deliver integrated solutions to our clients. These organizations are carefully chosen for their institutional strength, professional excellence, and alignment with our values. Under CARDINTON’s leadership, Collaborative Partners contribute their expertise as part of a seamless, client-facing solution, allowing us to manage all coordination, execution, and quality control. Clients interact exclusively with CARDINTON, which serves as their single point of contact and accountability.