Mount Sage Advisors — Independent Director Services British Virgin Islands

Mount Sage Advisors is a BVI FSC Restricted Class III Licensed independent director services firm at 200 Waterfront Drive, Unit 7A, Road Town, Tortola VG1110, British Virgin Islands. Led by Christian Thompson and Sjoerd Koster, both permanent residents of the BVI with 50 years combined experience in investment management, banking, fiduciary services, fund governance, digital assets, and regulatory oversight.

British Virgin Islands · Est. 2019

Independent
Expert
Directors

Independent directorships and governance solutions for Investment Funds, Digital Assets, and Private Wealth in the British Virgin Islands. We bridge the gap between traditional fiduciary standards and the digital economy.

Our Services Get In Touch
British Virgin Islands BVI FSC Licensed Est. 2019
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50+
Years Combined
Expertise
25+
Years BVI
Experience
FSC
Licensed &
Regulated
3
Core Service
Pillars
Road Town
Road Town Harbour · Tortola
British Virgin Islands
The Directors

Meet the Team

Two permanent residents of the British Virgin Islands with 50 years of combined experience across investment management, banking, fiduciary services, fund governance, digital assets, and regulatory oversight.

Christian Thompson — Managing Director, Mount Sage Advisors BVI Independent Director
Christian
Thompson
Managing Director · Co-Founder

Christian brings over 25 years of experience in Investment Management, Investment Banking, Accounting and Audit. He began his career at PwC before transitioning into Fixed Income & Structured Products at Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank. In 2002, he joined Man Group ($139bn AUM), overseeing Performance, Risk and Operations for 100+ emerging hedge fund managers, and managed Man’s outsourced fund servicing team covering valuations, administration and custody for over 1,000 funds — including chairing Man Group’s Valuation Committee. Following the GFC, he co-managed a $1.4bn multi-strategy illiquid portfolio. In 2012 he co-founded Brook Bay Capital (BVI, Ireland, Jersey), where he serves as Principal and Co-CIO. He established Mount Sage Advisors in 2019.

  • Chairman & Sub-Advisor, HK Quant & Global Macro Fund Manager
  • Chairman & Advisor, UK/Japanese Multi-Strat Fund Manager
  • Chairman, Cayman-based digital asset execution platform
  • Member, BVI FSC Securities, Investment Business & Mutual Funds Advisory Committee (SIBAC)
Christian on LinkedIn ↗
Sjoerd Koster — Managing Director, Mount Sage Advisors BVI Independent Director
Sjoerd
Koster
Managing Director · Co-Founder

Independent Director based in the British Virgin Islands, providing board appointments for BVI and Cayman entities. With 25+ years of financial services experience focused on governance, risk management, and regulatory oversight, Sjoerd works with investment managers, funds, banks, family offices, and digital asset ventures — from CEX/DEX operators and token issuers to custody platforms and proprietary trading firms. Currently serving on regulatory boards, approved manager entities and regulated bank entities, he combines a client-first mindset with strong regulatory expertise to help businesses strengthen governance, navigate complexity, and succeed in both traditional finance and digital assets.

  • Member, BVI Financial Services Complaints Tribunal
  • Former President, BVI Bank Association (BVI BA)
  • Former Deputy Chairman, Association of Registered Agents (ARA)
  • Former Member, Financial Services FinTech Advisory Group
  • Former Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Premier (EAC)
  • Former Member, Sub-Committee to Revitalize BVI Financial Services
Sjoerd on LinkedIn ↗
Our Jurisdiction

Where We Live and Work

The British Virgin Islands has long been recognised as one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres — an established jurisdiction of choice for sophisticated investment structures, fund managers, and digital asset ventures.

Both our Managing Directors are permanent residents of the BVI. We are based in Road Town, Tortola — close to the BVI Financial Services Commission, our trusted legal partners, and the financial services community we have helped shape for over two decades.

50+
Years Combined
Experience
BVI
Permanent
Residents
FSC
Licensed &
Regulated
British Virgin Islands
BVI
British Virgin Islands
50+ years combined expertise
Our Edge
Traditional
Fiduciary.
Digital
Future.

Led by Managing Directors with 50+ years of combined experience — including direct oversight of regulated digital asset execution platforms and crypto-focused hedge funds — we understand the unique operational risks of Web3 governance. We bring the same rigorous fiduciary standards applied to traditional finance to the digital economy.

Independent Directors

Experienced oversight for Hedge Funds, Private Equity, and Tokenised Vehicles.

Digital Asset Governance

Specialist independent directors for VASP entities, Web3 foundations, and hybrid funds.

Economic Substance

Turnkey solutions for BVI Managers to meet CIGA requirements under BVI Economic Substance Legislation.

Jurisdiction

British Virgin Islands — one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres, regulated by the BVI FSC.

Services

What We Offer

Independent, value-added advisory to BVI Investment Managers, fund operators, family offices and regulated entities — tailored to your goals, not templated.

Investment Managers
You manage the capital. We provide the governance and substance.
Fund Operators
You run the fund. We bring the independent oversight your investors expect.
Digital Assets & Web3
You innovate in the digital economy. We provide the governance framework it demands.
Family Offices & Private Wealth
You preserve the legacy. We deliver the BVI structure and directorship to support it.
Real Estate & Banking
You build the asset base. We provide compliant, experienced BVI directors.
01 / 03

Independent
Directorships

“We deliver independence and expertise to the board, ensuring they fulfil their fiduciary responsibilities to the shareholders or partners of the respective company or partnership.”

Learn more about our directorship services ↗
BVI full-time resident independent directors
Funds, approved managers, corporates & digital asset ventures
Private Wealth, Family Office, Real Estate & Banking
Board Appointments
  • BVI full-time resident independent directors for funds, approved managers and corporates
  • Digital Asset Governance — specialist directors for VASP entities, Web3 foundations and hybrid fund structures
  • Private Wealth, Family Office, Real Estate and Banking sector directors
  • Insolvency appointments across financial assets and real estate
Distressed & Work-out Mandates
  • Distressed debt & equity work-outs and Fund Manager replacement
  • Activist investor and liquidation committee representation
  • Fund & corporate restructuring and redomiciliation
  • 15+ years leading distressed matters in the BVI
02 / 03

Economic
Substance
Solutions

Our proprietary Sub-Advisor solution — combined with BVI Directors and serviced office space — addresses CIGA requirements under BVI Economic Substance Legislation.

Discuss your requirements ↗
Proprietary Sub-Advisor solution addressing CIGA requirements
BVI Directors satisfying “suitably qualified” ES rules
Turnkey serviced office space in Road Town, Tortola
What We Provide
  • BVI Investment Sub-Advisory — decisions on investments, risk, FX hedging and regulatory reporting
  • BVI Directors with direct Investment Management expertise to satisfy “suitably qualified” ES requirements
  • Turnkey serviced office space with meeting rooms and video conference facilities
  • Third-party advisor coordination for legal, accounting, trade licences and work permits
Relevant Activities Covered
  • Fund management, banking and insurance business
  • Financing & leasing, headquarters and holding business
  • Intellectual property, shipping and distribution & service centre business
03 / 03

Investment
Manager &
Fund Set-up

“The fundamental challenge of launching a new Investment Manager and Fund means getting your infrastructure decision right at the formation of the business.”

Discuss your requirements ↗
Get the infrastructure decision right from day one
Outsourced CIO / COO / CFO with 15+ years of fund operations experience
BVI, Cayman, Jersey & Ireland fund structures
Outsourced CIO / COO / CFO
  • Supplement existing investment expertise with additional oversight and governance
  • 15+ years COO/CFO experience across hedge, PE, digital asset and alternative funds
  • Prime Brokerage, ISDA, banking and custody set-up and vendor selection
  • Outsourced middle and back office services
New Fund Set-up
  • BVI, Cayman, Jersey & Ireland fund structures — private and professional funds, GP/LP
  • Legal and regulatory infrastructure with trusted BVI law firm partners
  • Offering materials, seed capital readiness and investor due diligence preparation
Our Jurisdiction

British
Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands

The BVI remains one of the world’s leading offshore financial centres with a well-developed regulatory framework overseen by the BVI Financial Services Commission. Our practice is exclusively focused on this jurisdiction, giving clients the depth of local knowledge that generalist providers cannot match.

Approved Managers

A cost-effective regulatory framework for emerging investment managers managing funds for sophisticated investors under the Investment Business (Approved Managers) Regulations, 2012.

Economic Substance

Since 2019, relevant BVI entities must demonstrate genuine economic activity. We provide compliant, practical substance solutions through governance, resident directorship and office space.

BVI Funds

Incubator, Approved, Professional and Private Funds — we support governance and independent directorships across all BVI fund categories and GP/LP structures.

BVI FSC Regulation

We are licensed by the BVI Financial Services Commission. We hold a Restricted Class 3 Licence under the Bank & Trust Companies Act, 1990, and Approved Manager status.

Regulatory Status

We are licensed by the BVI Financial Services Commission.

Mount Sage Advisors Ltd is an “Approved Manager” under the Investment Business (Approved Managers) Regulations, 2012.

Mount Sage Directors Ltd holds a Restricted Class 3 Licence as defined under the Bank & Trust Companies Act, 1990.

Based In

200 Waterfront Drive, Unit 7A
Road Town, Tortola VG1110
British Virgin Islands

Both directors are permanent residents of the BVI, actively engaged with the BVI FSC and the island’s financial services community.

BVI
Natural Beauty
British Virgin Islands
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Independent director services, BVI resident governance and board appointments — answered directly by our team.

Mount Sage is led by Sjoerd Koster and Christian Thompson, two senior financial services professionals who are permanent residents of the British Virgin Islands. Sjoerd brings 25+ years across banking, fiduciary services, regulatory governance and digital assets. Christian brings 25+ years across investment management, fund operations, investment banking, audit and fund governance. Together they provide experienced, BVI-based board oversight rather than remote, administrative or nominee-style appointments.
Sjoerd and Christian bring 50 years of combined experience across investment management, banking, fiduciary services, fund governance, digital assets, and regulatory oversight. Their value extends beyond attending meetings or signing resolutions — they review board materials, understand complex structures, challenge management where appropriate, engage with service providers and ensure decisions are properly documented. Both are permanent residents of the BVI, supporting responsive local engagement and practical interaction with registered agents, counsel, administrators, auditors and regulators.
Yes. Mount Sage provides independent director services in the British Virgin Islands for BVI companies, funds, approved managers, holding companies, private wealth structures, family office vehicles, digital asset businesses and cross-border corporate structures. Our directors are permanent residents of the BVI and bring senior experience in banking, investment management, fiduciary services, fund governance, AML/CFT, economic substance and regulatory oversight.
Yes. Mount Sage Directors Ltd holds a Restricted Class III Licence under the Bank and Trust Companies Act, 1990 — the BVI’s regulated framework for professional directorship services. Mount Sage Advisors Ltd is an Approved Manager under the Investment Business (Approved Managers) Regulations, 2012. Both entities are regulated by the BVI Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC). Our regulatory status gives clients confidence that director services are delivered through a properly regulated BVI platform.
No. Mount Sage does not provide nominee directors or passive signatory services. We only accept appointments where there is a genuine governance role — requiring full access to constitutional documents, ownership information, board materials, financial information, compliance information and management updates. Our directors must be able to exercise independent judgment and properly discharge their duties.
Yes — both directors are permanent residents of the BVI. Many BVI structures benefit from directors who are physically present in the jurisdiction, understand the local regulatory environment and can support proper board governance from within the BVI. This is particularly relevant for BVI economic substance, where local board meetings, local decision-making, director expertise, proper minutes and BVI-based records may all be important. Experienced BVI-resident directors help evidence genuine local governance and practical substance.
Mount Sage supports economic substance through practical governance arrangements including BVI-resident directors, board meetings held in the BVI, documented decision-making, local records, our proprietary Sub-Advisor solution addressing CIGA requirements, turnkey serviced office space at 200 Waterfront Drive Road Town, and coordination with BVI legal, accounting and compliance advisors.
We support BVI business companies, private and professional funds, incubator and approved funds, approved managers, investment managers, holding companies, finance and leasing vehicles, private wealth structures, family office vehicles, digital asset businesses, IP holding companies and cross-border corporate structures. Our best fit is with clients who require credible governance — not simply a name on a register.
Yes. Mount Sage supports digital asset, Web3, VASP, protocol, trading, treasury, token, infrastructure and fund structures requiring credible BVI governance. Our directors have direct board experience overseeing regulated digital asset execution platforms and crypto-focused hedge funds, and understand VASP considerations, AML/CFT, sanctions, treasury governance, cybersecurity and cross-border group structures.
Three things set us apart: Regulated status — Restricted Class III Licence and Approved Manager (not all director providers are regulated); Permanent BVI residency — both directors live and work in the BVI; and No nominee directors — we only accept appointments where we perform a genuine governance role with full board access and independent judgment.
Before accepting an appointment we normally review the structure, jurisdiction, ownership, constitutional documents, regulatory status, business activity, service providers, financial position, compliance framework, economic substance position, D&O insurance and expected governance workload. We also consider independence, conflicts, sanctions risk, AML/CFT exposure, board composition and whether the appointment allows us to perform a real governance role in line with BVI legal, regulatory and fiduciary expectations.

This FAQ is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or investment advice. Mount Sage Directors Ltd holds a Restricted Class III Licence issued by the BVI Financial Services Commission. Mount Sage Advisors Ltd is an Approved Manager under the Investment Business (Approved Managers) Regulations, 2012.

About Us

Our Story

Our team comprises seasoned financial industry professionals — Christian Thompson and Sjoerd Koster — who collectively possess 50 years of investment and management expertise. We founded Mount Sage Advisors because we believe there is a need for an advisory firm capable of delivering tailored investment management and independent directorship solutions for BVI companies.

“Our team is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and dedication. We work closely with you to understand your unique needs, providing independent directorship services that align with your company’s goals.”

We primarily provide these services to clients operating in the regulated Investment Management, Private Wealth Management, Family Office, Real Estate and Banking sectors.

Our Approach

We are a specialist boutique embedded within the BVI regulatory ecosystem. Every engagement is led by senior professionals with genuine sector experience. We provide bespoke solutions tailored to each client’s unique requirements — not off-the-shelf products.

Fiduciary First

Our directors act in the genuine interests of fund investors and company stakeholders — free from the conflicts that arise when directorship services are bundled with fund promotion or administration.

BVI Resident & Engaged

Both directors are permanent residents of the BVI. We attend board meetings in person, engage with the BVI FSC and government advisory committees directly, and are active members of the island’s financial services community.

Contact Us

Get In Touch

Whether you need a BVI independent director, guidance on economic substance, or support launching a new Investment Manager or Fund, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help.

Office200 Waterfront Drive, Unit 7A
Road Town, Tortola VG1110
British Virgin Islands
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