Board of Directors

Don Wehby

Don Wehby became Group Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited on July 1, 2011. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Wehby was Group Chief Operating Officer, a position he took up when he rejoined the company on October 5, 2009.

Mr. Wehby first joined GraceKennedy Ltd. in 1995 as Group Finance Manager. He was appointed Deputy Finance Director in 1997 and in that same year was appointed to the Board of Directors of GraceKennedy Ltd. The following year, he was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and in 1999 undertook the additional role of Chief Operating Officer for the Financial Services Division. In addition, he was charged with the responsibility for leading the Group’s local and international expansion especially as this relates to banking, investments and insurance services. He has directed the listing of the company in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange sited in St. Kitts.

Under his leadership, GraceKennedy acquired 100% ownership of First Global Bank Ltd., now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

During his tenure as Chief Operating Officer of the Financial Services Division, the division’s pre-tax profit rose from $280 million in 2000 to $1.417 billion in 2005, an increase of 406 %.

In December 2005 Mr. Wehby relinquished his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Financial Services Division to take on expanded responsibilities as Group Chief Financial Officer, which included heading a new Strategic Planning Unit. In 2006, following the reorganisation of GraceKennedy he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer, GraceKennedy Ltd. and Chief Executive Officer, GK Investments.

In September 2007, Mr. Wehby resigned from his positions at GraceKennedy Ltd. and its Board of Directors to serve for two years as Government Senator and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

Following his two-year stint in public service, he was reappointed to the Board of Directors of GraceKennedy Ltd. on his return to GraceKennedy on October 5, 2009.

His current professional affiliations include Chairman of the Taskforce on Tourism Contribution & Linkages. He is also Vice-President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ). He previously served the PSOJ as a member of its Economic Policy Committee and Honorary Treasurer. He also served on the board of directors of his alma mater St. George’s College.

The first Jamaican to win the Young Caribbean Professional Network’s (YCPN) Award, Mr. Wehby was honoured as the International Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015 for his leadership in making GraceKennedy a major player in the global marketplace, his commitment to investing in downtown Kingston and to Sports. In May 2015, he received the key to the city of Miramar, Florida, from its mayor, Wayne Messam, for his work in the private sector, his two year stint in government, and his overall contribution to Jamaica. The ‘Key to the City’ is an honour bestowed by a city upon esteemed residents and visitors. He was the   Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) Distinguished Member Awardee for 2015. The award recognizes a member who through service and achievements, has contributed to the prestige and status of the Institute and the Accountancy profession. Mr. Wehby is the youngest recipient of the ICAJ award. Additionally, on Saturday, September 24, 2016, Mr. Wehby was inducted into the St. George’s College Hall of Fame for Excellence and Achievement in Business, Community Spirit and Service to the College.

Mr. Wehby is currently New Zealand’s Honorary Consul to Jamaica, following his appointment in September 2015. Additionally, in March 2016, he was appointed by Jamaica’s Prime Minister, The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, as Senator, which will once again allow him to offer his services by giving an independent, non-aligned voice in critical national matters, including among other things, helping to shape new legislation and amend existing legislation in need of reform. He is also the Chairman of JAMPRO following his appointment in April 2016.

A Fellow Chartered Accountant, Mr. Wehby gained his early auditing experience at Touche-Ross Thorburn. He holds both a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) and a Master of Science degree in Accounting from The University of the West Indies and has completed an Advanced Management College certificate course at Stanford University.

Mr. Wehby is married with three children. He is an avid cricket fan and a member of the Kingston Cricket Club.

Steven Whittingham

Steven Whittingham is the Group Chief Investment Officer for GraceKennedy Limited. In this role, he works closely with the Group CEO to formulate strategy, ensure effective execution of key strategic initiatives and oversee global M&A activities. He is also the President and CEO of GK Capital Management, the investment and advisory subsidiary of GraceKennedy.

Steven was previously the President of First Global Financial Services Limited (FGFS), at the time one of Jamaica’s leading diversified financial institutions.

Before joining the GraceKennedy Group, Steven was the Managing Director of the Shell Licensee in Jamaica, the country’s largest downstream petroleum distribution business. Steven has significant Mergers and Acquisitions experience, acquiring and operating multiple enterprises in Jamaica as well as working for Morgan Stanley in their Investment Banking Group in London.  Steven began his career at BlackRock in New York focusing on institutional fixed income asset management.

Steven attended the University of Pennsylvania where he completed a dual degree program, earning a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences. He received his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 2008 where he was awarded the Morgan Stanley Fellowship.

Steven is currently a director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, GraceKennedy Foods USA LLC and GK General Insurance Company Limited. He has also served as a director on several other private and public sector boards including Jamaica Promotions Corporation Ltd. (JAMPRO), National Road Operating and Constructing Company Ltd. (NROCC), the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, the Fisheries Management and Development Fund and HEART Trust/NTA.

He is married with two children.

Dennis Chung

A chartered accountant by profession and completed the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in accounting, in 1987 and 1989 respectively, at the University of the West Indies, and the Certified Public Accountant exams in 1990 in California, USA.

He attended Jamaica College and was a member of the Jamaica College Board and Foundation between 2005 and 2012.

He is currently the CEO of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, and holds the following positions:

• Immediate Past President and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, and a council member since 2005
• Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean
• Director of GK Capital Management Limited and chairman of the Audit Committee
• Chairman of National Solid Waste Management Authority
• Director of National Integrity Action

Has written a weekly column in the Financial Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer, on economic and financial matters, since 2003 and contributes commentary to both the print and electronic media. He has done numerous presentations, in Jamaica and within the Caribbean region.

He has also served on numerous public and private sector boards, including the Bank of Jamaica among others.

He has authored two books, (1) “Charting Jamaica’s Economic and Social Development – A much needed paradigm shift; and (2) Achieving Life’s Equilibrium – balancing health, wealth, and happiness for optimal living.

Dennis is an avid recreational cyclist.

Simone Bowie Jones

Simone Bowie Jones is an Attorney-at-Law and Partner of Myers Fletcher & Gordon, and is a member of that firm’s Commercial Department.

Her practice areas include Banking, Financial Regulation, Securities, Corporate Finance, Product Registration, Sports and Entertainment Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and most significantly, Takeovers and Mergers. She was actively involved in three of the major mergers and/or acquisitions that have occurred in Jamaica in recent years, namely, the acquisition of Air Jamaica by Caribbean Airlines, the acquisition of Lascelles De Mercado & Co. Limited by Angostura Limited and the merger of the Tortuga franchises throughout the Caribbean into one entity, in which Jamaica Producers Group acquired a majority interest.

Simone graduated from the University of the West Indies having obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honours and then completed her studies at the Norman Manley Law School. She was admitted to the Jamaican Bar in September 2005. She later obtained a Certificate in Mediation Practice and Procedure awarded by the Dispute Resolution Foundation of Jamaica.

Simone sits on the Executive Committee and volunteers with the Graduates Foundation, an organization with a mission to expose, empower and educate youths from underprivileged and marginalized communities.

Angella Rainford

Angella Rainford is an experienced investment professional who has been involved in energy project development, capital raising, private equity, alternative asset management and management consulting.

Angella started her career as a student at Harvard College where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government with a minor in Biochemistry. Through this completion, Angella became a Rhodes Scholar finalist. She then went on to the University of Cambridge in England where she obtained a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies. Angella’s quest for knowledge then led her to completing another Master’s degree in Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

Angella is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Rekamniar Frontier Ventures, where she originates and develops power projects in emerging markets. Prior to this, she held prestigious positions at global companies, including Goldman, Sachs & Co., Sterling Stamos and McKinsey & Company. Angella was also appointed as a Board member of The Emerging Markets Foundation and operated as a volunteer consultant at Technoserve in Ghana.

In addition, Angella leads a very fulfilling life through her many interests which include, aviation – she is an FAA certified private pilot, and motorcycling – she is a California Superbike School BMW off road skilled rider. She enjoys the classical piano and even auditioned at Juilliard at 15 years old. She is also an avid traveller and has journeyed to over 60 countries, including backpacking from China to Pakistan.

Mariame McIntosh Robinson

Mariame McIntosh Robinson joined First Global as President and CEO on February 1, 2016. Mrs Robinson served as a Partner at Portland Private Equity (PPE) and has also worked as a Management Consultant at the top global strategy consulting firms including McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company.

Outside of work, Mrs. Robinson volunteers her time with TEACH Caribbean, a Jamaican education charity that she co-founded, and Katalyxt, an incubator and training organization for Jamaican entrepreneurs.

Previous Professional Experience

• BSc., M.I.T, Electrical Engineering
• M.B.A., Harvard University
• M. Phil, Oxford University, Economics attended as the Jamaica 1998 Rhodes Scholar.