GraceKennedy (GK) boss, Douglas Orane, has stepped down as Chairman of the group’s subsidiary, Hardware and Lumber (H&L), handing the job to his deputy, Erwin Burton. Burton, also heads GK Foods, the division that groups GraceKennedy’s food manufacturing businesses. GraceKennedy also announced that Courtney Campbell, recently appointed head of GK Investments, which covers the group’s non-food assets, was called to serve on th the H&L Board of Directors.
Montego Freeport has advised that Richard Clarke was appointed a Director of the Company effective February 24, 2009.

The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited advised that Ronald Bourdeau, Vice-President, Risk Management, was reassigned to the Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto, effective January 9, 2009. Scotiabank Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Stacie Ann Wright, has resigned effective on March 31.Wright had been with Scotia since June 1995.

Capital & Credit Financial Group Ltd has advised that Sheron Dixon Brown was appointed General Manager of Capital & Credit Remittance Ltd. effective March 2, 2009.

Jacqueline Mighty, a chartered accountant with more than 24 years in management, finance and accounting, has been appointed General Manager of COK Co-operative Credit Union Limited. She replaced Brenda Cuthbert on February 7. Mighty, who joined COK in 2006, previously served as Deputy General Manager in charge of special projects. She was Financial Controller at the Jamaica Observer before going to COK. Her new role entails developing and managing the overall business strategy of the credit union – the leader in its class in assets – to strengthen its position in the marketplace.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is searching for a new head of its Planning and Economic Research Division, following last Monday’s indication from current divisional head, Dr Peter John Gordon, that he would be stepping down from that post and leaving the agency as of April 25, 2009. Gordon gave the PIOJ no reason for his decision to quit. Dr Wesley Hughes, PIOJ’s Director-General, could not say precisely when a new head of the Planning and Economic Research Division would be named. In the interim, Taylor Spence, Manager, Social Policy and Planning, has being given the responsibility for the leadership of the division.

Sagicor Life Jamaica Ltd reorganized its senior management structure effective April 1, 2009 as follows:

• Errol McKenzie – Executive Vice President, Employee Benefits
• Ivan Carter – Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Accounts
• Janet Sharp – Executive Vice President, Resident Actuary
• Rohan Miller – Vice President, Investments
• Mark Chisholm – Vice President, Individual Life Division
• Karl Williams – Vice President, Human Resources Division
• Janice Grant Taffe – Vice President, Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary

The decision is in keeping with the Sagicor Group’s strategy to maintain costs in-line with revenue and improve efficiency in all areas of its operations given global economic condition. It will also outsource some of its secretarial functions and consolidate its corporate communications with that of its major subsidiary. It will also reorganize its Underwriting, New Business and Premium Accounts Departments. The changes have resulted in two Senior Management posts being made redundant. These are the positions of Senior Vice President, Insurance Operations, previously held by Mrs. Sharon Lake and the post of Vice President/Corporate Secretary, which was held by Ms. Donna Stephenson. These duties have been consolidated with that of the Legal Counsel. Mrs Berita Locke, Vice President, Human Resources Division, has opted for early retirement.

Sagicor Life Jamaica has merged its marketing functions with subsidiary Pan Caribbean Financial Services, creating in the process a group corporate communications unit that Tanya Miller will oversee. Miller is now the Vice-President of Marketing and new-product development at Pan Caribbean effective April 1. Tanya will assume the Sagicor Jamaica marketing and corporate communications functions that were held by Karl Williams. Miller will also have a new title – Vice-President Group Marketing – and will be in charge of a unit of 11 people, though the five from Sagicor will remain domiciled at that company, located within walking distance from Pan Caribbean in the New Kingston business district. Miller’s job will also involve brand development.