“As somebody said to me today, who called me, a very prominent businessperson, who said to me that it is extremely unusual to have a CEO for almost 20 years in a publicly-traded company, so that in and of itself speaks for itself.”

“The fact is that sometimes we get to a point where different stakeholders may have different points of view on the direction in which a company should go, or how things should be managed or evolved, and that’s fine. And if there is a difference and you can’t come to a resolution around it, then separation is part of the resolution. We understand that. That’s part of the game. That’s part of the business that we are involved in,” Hylton told the Business Observer.

Hylton spent 20 years as the head of the NCB Group, while Cohen spent just over 19 years. Both were acknowledged for their service by the bank in a statement in which it was confirmed that they are to be replaced.

Coming out of Jamaica’s financial sector meltdown, there were not many takers for assets such as NCB, Hylton said. After negotiating for more than a year, he met alone with Lee-Chin and made a proposal that may have sealed the deal.

“’Michael, I am not here to sell you a bank. I am here to sell you a vision of a bank. I am not here to sell you this bank for what it is today. I am here to sell you this bank for what it can be in the future’,”

Hylton recalled telling the billionaire Canadian-Jamaican businessman.

We have bold ambitions and big dreams for the future of GK. Our 2030 vision sees GraceKennedy becoming the #1 Caribbean brand in the world with 70% of our revenues and profits earned outside of Jamaica.

In 2022 we continued pursuing our goal to list GK on an international stock exchange, as we expand the footprint of our food business internationally. We also continued expansion of our financial services business in the Caribbean. With a highly skilled and engaged team, and ESG principles infused into our core business strategy.

GK is well positioned to meet our targets.

On the heels of our centenary, we are growing and expanding our business in a sustainable way, for the benefit of all our stakeholders. GK has laid a solid foundation and we are committed to achieving our 2030 vision and improving the lives of everyone we interact with.

We remain eternally grateful for all the people who have made GK one of the most loved Caribbean brands in the world. As our story continues, I am excited for what the next chapter will bring for our Company. Notwithstanding any challenges we may face, with so many great people in our corner, I know that the future of GK is bright.

The best is yet to come.

Don Wehby, CD Group CEO

Extracted from the GraceKennedy 2022 Annual Report CEO’s
Message

“In addition to being new, marijuana is an inherently interesting market to watch. For one thing, the market has existed for years and years before formal legalization. It’s also still illegal at the federal level, meaning that each state has its own distinct structure, letting us compare and contrast different approaches to building this out. Some states require complete vertical integration (from farm to retail outlets), for instance. In some states, that’s broken up. Some states have different tax approaches. And they may have different requirements about who can open a dispensary, and how many you can own. Figuring out branding, marketing, payments, taxes, banking services, delivery, farming, and so on — it’s all something of a work in progress.”

Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal (Twitter @TheStalwart) and Tracy Alloway at (@tracyalloway).

Managing stress and avoiding burnout is a critical aspect of success in the corporate world. Women, in particular, often face unique challenges in balancing their work and personal lives, leading to higher rates of stress and burnout.

One of the most important strategies that I have used to manage my stress and to avoid burnout is finding my inner sanctum. This refers to a physical or mental space that is reserved solely for rest and relaxation, allowing individuals to recharge and decompress from the demands of work. For example, a physical sanctuary could be a quiet room in one’s home or a peaceful natural setting. A mental sanctuary could be a meditation practice or visualization technique that helps to calm the mind and reduce stress.

However to avoid burnout and manage stress, one must recognise and overcome workaholism. Workaholism is characterised by a compulsive need to work, often at the expense of personal relationships, hobbies, and other activities outside of work. While a strong work ethic can be beneficial, it can lead to negative consequences if taken too far.

To overcome workaholism, setting clear boundaries between work and personal time is crucial. This might include establishing specific work hours, avoiding checking emails or taking calls outside of work hours, and prioritising personal relationships and self-care activities.

It’s also essential to identify the underlying causes of workaholism, such as a fear of failure or a need for validation, and address them through therapy or other forms of support.

So, have you found your inner sanctum and what are the strategies that have worked for you to avoid burnout? Until next time.

Gail Abrahams is a Strategic marketer and communicator with top level experience across a wide range of industries.