Tell me a bit about yourself, and your role at Jamaica National Group?
I am an economist and marketer. I served the former Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) in several strategic capacities, ranging from Branch Manager to senior executive responsible for marketing, distribution and representative offices, for a period of 37 years. I have also worked in the capacity of General Manager, JN Money Services.
During my leadership, Jamaica National achieved significant growth in its overseas portfolio, particularly in the establishment of JNBS representative offices in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada, and the expansion of its remittance service, JN International Money Transfer.
I have also served as the JN Group Executive for Business, Development & Research, conceptualising and implementing products and services, at the corporate and commercial levels. I was able to use my knowledge of local and overseas financial markets to capitalise on cutting-edge technologies and products to enhance the JN Group’s new business initiatives.
What are some of the projects that JN will be working on in 2019?
As we move forward in 2019, The Jamaica National Group will continue on its mission to provide our members and customers with access to financial products and services to achieve their potential. We will continue to make available our expanded range of options to finance home and property purchases, and importantly, to stay committed to our promise to significantly reduce the time it normally takes to receive mortgage financing.
What are your long term goals for growth and development at JN Canada?
There are several strategic goals, which I will be striving to implement over the course of the next few months. Among those plans is to continue to build stronger relations with members of the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada and to empower members of the community to make sound financial decisions, as they strive to build their wealth.
The JN Group is a diverse group, with a suite of financial products and services that we want to push into the marketplace to expand our business and to forge stronger relationships with our stakeholders in Canada.
What would you like the community to know now that you will be the head of JN Canada?
That we are here to serve them and we will be doing our best to interact even more with them this year.
Our team remains committed to the Canadian Diaspora and will continue to support Jamaicans in Canada as we have done throughout the years. Some of the initiatives we will be supporting include Camp Jumoke, an organisation dedicated to enriching the lives of children living with Sickle Cell Disease; the Wolmers’ Past Students’ Association and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf.
We will also be increasing our level of activity in the Canadian market through increased mortgage conversations; annual community fora; members’ meetings and the Jamaica Diaspora Conference, which will take place in June in Kingston, Jamaica. We look forward to seeing you at these events, as we showcase critical Jamaican services and real estate opportunities.
Where did you attend school?
I am a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where I majored in Economics.
What is your community involvement?
I am an avid sportsman. I am also currently involved in a number of community projects and sit on the board of several organisations. These include Vice President of The Kingston Cricket Club; Director of the Institute of Sports; Director of Sabina Park Holdings Ltd; Chairman of the Board Of Trustees for Institute of Sports Pension Plan: Member of the Board of Trustees of the NHF Pension Fund; Member of the JSIF Projects Committee; and Immediate Past President of the Colbeck Water Users Association (a Specially Authorised Farmers Co-op).
I am also former Director of the National Insurance Fund; Nutrition Products Ltd; National Irrigation Commission; Sports Development Foundation; Factories Corporation; El Greco Resorts Ltd; Beaches Resorts Ltd and the Jamaica Mortgage Bank.
