Jan 2016 Financial News

GraceKennedy Limited - Resignation of a Director

Jan 14, 2016

GRACEKENNEDY GROUP CEO ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES WITHIN THE GROUP

Kingston, Jamaica, January 14 – GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby has announced senior management changes at First Global Bank Limited (FGB) and the wider GraceKennedy consequent upon the resignation of Courtney Campbell from the GraceKennedy Group. Courtney Campbell, CEO of GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) and First Global Bank (FGB) has resigned from the GraceKennedy Group and will step down from the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FGB and CEO of GKFG on January 31, 2016. He will consequently also be resigning from the Boards of GraceKennedy Limited, First Global Bank Limited and GraceKennedy Financial Group Limited, as well as other Boards within the Group.

Mrs. Mariame Robinson, who is currently a member of the FGB Board, has been appointed President and CEO of First Global Bank, effective February 1, 2016. Mrs. Paula Robertson- Barclay, currently Chief Credit Risk Officer for the Bank, has been appointed General Manager of FGB also effective February 1, 2016.

In making the announcements, Mr. Wehby indicated that “Courtney has served us well since he joined the Group in 2008 and we are thankful for the contribution he has made to our financial services businesses. We wish him all the very best as he leaves to explore other opportunities.” In a communication to Mr Wehby, Mr Campbell stated, “I am pleased that I had the opportunity to contribute to the growth of GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) in recent years. I know that the team is energized and will remain committed to the bold strategic goals that have been established.”

Incoming President and CEO of FGB, Mariame Robinson, will be leaving her role as Partner at Portland Private Equity (PPE), a Caribbean focused private equity fund, where she leads the Fund’s due diligence process and portfolio monitoring for her closed deals. She has worked as a Management Consultant at the top global strategy consulting firms, advising CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and their management teams on growth strategy and operations. She has worked with McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company where she most recently was an Engagement Manager in the New York office.

Mrs Robinson has a BSc. in Electrical Engineering from M.I.T., an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and an M. Phil in Economics from Oxford University where she attended as the Jamaica 1998 Rhodes Scholar.

As President and CEO of First Global, she will report directly to GraceKennedy Group CEO and Chairman of the GraceKennedy Financial Group, Don Wehby, and will also be appointed to GraceKennedy’s Executive Committee as well as to the GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) Board.

“We are pleased to appoint Mariame to lead the Bank. Her track record in transformational leadership is solid and she has had vast experience in different fields which will make her leadership a tremendous benefit to First Global Bank and to GraceKennedy,” said Mr Wehby.

Mr Wehby added that, with the promotion of Mrs. Barclay to the position of General Manager of the Bank, the Bank’s leadership will be further strengthened. “With over 25 years in banking, Paula has added significant value to First Global, and we are confident that she will continue doing well in her new role,” said the Group CEO.

Several other senior management changes will take effect within the Group on February 1, 2016.

Grace Burnett will assume the role of CEO, GraceKennedy Financial Group. She will also continue as Managing Director of GK General Insurance Company Limited. Mrs. Burnett, a Chartered Insurer and Attorney-at-Law, joined the GraceKennedy Group in August 2000. She has had a tremendous track record in the Group’s Insurance segment, with both GK General Insurance Company Ltd. (formerly JIIC) and Allied Insurance Brokers Ltd. showing significant growth under her leadership.

Mr. Steven Whittingham, will be appointed Chief Investment Officer for the Group with responsibility for devising and executing strategy across GK’s businesses, and identifying and leading key investment opportunities. He will also continue to lead GK Capital Management Limited as its CEO. A graduate from the Harvard Business School, Mr. Whittingham has significant experience in investments, mergers and acquisitions and entrepreneurial management in the USA, Europe and the Caribbean. His track record of identifying and executing on innovative opportunities will continue to be of significant benefit to the Group.

Both Mrs Burnett and Mr Whittingham will report directly to the Group CEO.

“We have a cadre of exceptional leaders within the GraceKennedy Group. I have every confidence that these changes will strengthen the leadership team and allow the company to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Consumer Group and a significant player in the regional financial sector,” said Mr Wehby.

Contact: Simone Clarke-Cooper
Group Chief Communication Manager
809-1121 (cell); 932-3174 (landline)


Source:
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange Limited
Thursday January 14, 2016