The governor, a civil servant who has in modern times typically been a British subject normally resident in the United Kingdom, is appointed by the monarch from the staff of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the advice of the British government.

The role of the governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and is responsible for appointing the premier, who is the leader of the party with a majority of seats in the Legislature.

The official residence of the governor is the Government House in Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.

When Jamaica gained independence, the islands were split and became a separate Crown colony.

In 2013 Helen Kilpatrick became the Cayman Islands' first female governor.