Dec 2017 Financial News

GraceKennedy Limited - GraceKennedy Group Management Changes

Dec 15, 2017

GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby has announced senior management changes within the GraceKennedy Group, which will take effect on January 1, 2018:

GraceKennedy Foods – Andrea Coy will be appointed as CEO of GK Foods International Business a position previously held by Ryan Mack. GraceKennedy’s manufacturing and distribution operations in the USA, Canada and the UK will fall under Mrs Coy’s remit as well as the Company’s continued expansion into West Africa and Europe. Andrea will also have responsibility for GraceKennedy’s distribution operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ryan Mack will take up the role of CEO of GK Foods Domestic Business and his portfolio will include the Hi Lo Food Stores, GK’s Manufacturing Operations in Jamaica, GK’s local Distribution Operations which comprises of Grace Foods & Services, World Brands Services and the recently acquired Consumer Brands Limited. Ryan has held several senior roles across the Group and will bring key learnings gained from his years in the UK and the U.S. Mr. Mack will lead the local operations in fortressing the retail, manufacturing and distribution arms of the business while increasing efficiencies and maintaining the Company’s strong position in the market.

As of January 1, 2018 Derrick Reckord will be appointed to act as President and CEO of GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC. Derrick joined GraceKennedy in 1987 as a management trainee and quickly established himself as a senior manager within the Group. During his time with the Company Mr. Reckord has been instrumental in developing and growing GK’s business in the US. Prior to his appointment in his current role as Senior Vice President of the US operations in 2014, Derrick led the Company’s development of its US and Caribbean export markets. Derrick is an astute marketer and has a wealth of experience in the US retail trade.

GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) – Margaret Campbell, currently Chief Financial Officer of GKMS, will be appointed Country Manager for the Jamaican operations of GKMS Ms. Campbell joined GraceKennedy in 1996 in the role of accounting clerk and has held several positions in the finance department of GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS). In this newly created role, Ms.  Campbell will report to Michelle Allen, CEO of GKMS, GKMS is the exclusive agent for Western Union in Jamaica and several Caribbean countries as part of a long standing joint venture arrangement between GraceKennedy and Western Union.

GraceKennedy Executive Committee – Steven Whittingham, who joined the Company in 2013, will be appointed to the Company’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which is chaired by the Group CEO, has executive leadership responsibility for overseeing the Group’s operations. Mr. Whittingham will continue in his roles as Chief Investment Officer for the GraceKennedy Group and Managing Director of GK Capital Management and GK Investments. Mr. Whittingham has significant experience in investments, mergers and acquisition and entrepreneurial management in the USA, Europe and the Caribbean. He will continue to have responsibility for devising and executing strategy across GK’s businesses, and this mandate includes identifying M&A opportunities for the Group in order to strategically grow the business.


Source:
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange Limited
Friday December 15th 2017