2008 was certainly as year of ups and downs, but more importantly, it was a year when a hand full of business people made such an impact it shifted the economy with every move they made. Outlined below, are what we consider to be the winners and losers for 2008; this is based primarily on the impact of the activity both on consumers and the economy. There is always controversy in these selections and so we expect them. So here goes….

Big question of the year – will LIME work?
Cable and Wireless now trading as LIME, this is a company that just refuses to roll over and die. It has changed its CEO countless times over the last five years and has equally sought to rebrand its mobile service many times in an effort to fight back against Digicel. It has sought to transform itself from within many times, none of which has yet to generate the kind of traction desired. The final attempt is to discard the name that it has been known as for over 100 years and now trade as LIME. As on industry watcher commented “The Jamaican consumer and for that matter the Caribbean consumer has over the years fallen out of love with C&W. Like many relationships, they continued to live with C&W because ‘no betta no deh’. But that was before Digicel: younger, energetic, modern, with vibrant marketing; then along came CLARO.

CEO of the year – Francis Haynes
Francis Haynes, was named Businessite Magazine’s CEO of the Year, for his record performance in 2007. Haynes shot to the top of “The List” with a 576.62% growth in after tax profits of 522,123 million compared to 77,166 in 2006. Under his leadership, during the financial year ended December 2007, Carib Cement Company Limited (CCCL) was able to realize positive growth in its net profit for the first time in three years.

Surprise of the Year – Bill Clarke retires
William “Bill” Clarke’s sudden decision to retire caught everybody by surprise. So sudden was the announcement that SCOTIABANK Jamaica moved quickly to scotch swirling rumours that President and CEO Clarke had been fired. The official announcement was that the veteran banker would retire at the end of October.

Party Crasher of the Year – Claro and Carlos
For many, the real battle for mobile supremacy in Jamaica was between Digicel and Cable and Wireless. Miphone was considered the third player with very little prospects for overtaking the other two. Along comes America Movil, owed by the second richest man in the world, Carlo Slim. He acquires the company and begins the transformation of MiPhone’s network to 3G technology with an investment of over US$300 million. The Miphone brand is dumped for Claro and Carlos announces that he’s going after Digicel and expects to be number one within five years or less. Claro crashes the party and changes the Game Plan forever.

Biggest Winner of the Year – Mobile Consumers
With LIME, Claro and Digicel spending millions of dollars to gain and maintain supremacy in the mobile market, the mobile consumer is enjoying unheard of benefits: lower call rates, heavily discounted handsets, and consumer promotions offering millions of dollars and prizes. The mobile consumer has never had it so good and it’s just the beginning.

Car of the Year – 2008 Honda Accord
The first thing that hits you when you see the 2008 Honda Accord is the shape; it’s a brand new Honda shape, reminiscent of the 2007/8 BMW 5 series, but totally different.

SUV of the Year – The 2008 Range Rover Sport HSE
“Effortless on Road……….Legendary off Road. The Range Rover Sport, legendary for it’s off road capabilities which combine well with its on road luxury features; indeed this separates it from the rest.