In a celebration befitting a hero, late Senator Don Wehby—who also led the GraceKennedy Group as CEO from 2011 up until earlier this year—was honoured with the posthumous installation into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Hall of Fame at a banquet held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, St Andrew, on Monday evening.

The 31st inductee into its prestigious Hall of Fame, Wehby was remembered as a “dynamic leader…known to be decisive, strategic and intentional, whilst still unassuming and unpretentious”.

Speaking at the event, PSOJ President Metry Seaga hailed Wehby as the embodiment of the principle “that nation-building begins with people…Don lived the belief that every Jamaican deserves a fair chance, and he proved that corporate leadership and community upliftment are not separate missions—they are one and the same.”

“Tonight, we induct into the PSOJ’s Hall of Fame, a man who walked amongst kings but never lost a common touch. Don’s story is grounded in family, faith, discipline, and a deep belief in Jamaica’s potential. When you hear him speak, or heard him speak about his father, a fair and honest man, or his mother, Bluezy, the gentle teacher who nurtured his compassion, you understand immediately where the integrity was shaped long before he even entered corporate life,” Seaga continued.

Highlighting that Wehby served as vice-president and treasurer of the business advocacy organisation, as well as on its Economic Policy Committee, the PSOJ president pointed out that the inductee was not just a member but was a “pillar”. Seaga further praised Wehby for being thoughtful, balanced, principled, and anchored in service to his country.

“Don’s legacy reminds us that leadership is not about a position. It’s about purpose and about service. It is about the difference we make in the lives of others, especially at times like this,” Seaga continued.

“So tonight, as we induct a true champion of business into the PSOJ Hall of Fame, I extend my congratulations to my friend and his proud family. And I thank him for leaving us a roadmap for service, excellence, and national pride,” he added.

More than a businessman—a believer

Frank James, successor to Wehby as CEO of GraceKennedy Group, remembered his late colleague as more than a businessman. Drawing parallels between Wehby and late PSOJ president and former GK Group Chairman and CEO Carlton Alexander, he said they both shared the conviction that the private sector had a duty to serve the nation beyond just generating profit.

“Don lived that same conviction every day, whether as a PSOJ vice president, a senator, or simply as our boss walking through the GK corridor saying, ‘how you doing? ‘ and genuinely wanting to hear the answer,” James said.

“Don wasn’t just a businessman; he was a believer. He believed in our country, he believed in our people, and he believed that business could and should be a force for good. Education was one of Don’s deepest passions,” he added.

In honour of Wehby, James announced that GK Group and the PSOJ will jointly donate $1 million to the Grace & Staff Chairman’s Scholarship Fund to support high school students in western Jamaica to finish the school year.

In addition, James, in highlighting Wehby’s legacy in revitalising downtown Kingston, pointed out the significant role his predecessor played in the completion of the GK Global headquarters on Harbour Street in 2019. On that note, James announced that the building will be named The Don Wehby Building.

‘People first’

For his part, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness called Wehby a “doyen of business, a patriot, [and] a public servant”, in addition to being a husband, father, and friend.

“Don Webby was a Jamaican of uncommon distinction. Guided by principle, discipline, and an unshakable belief in Jamaica’s potential. This recognition by the PSOJ affirms that Don Webby’s life’s work was not episodic or incidental, but foundational. He helped shape institutions, raise standards, and model a form of leadership that will outlast any single tenure or title,” the prime minister said.

“Don Wehby understood something essential about national development—that growth is not accidental. It is the product of sound judgement, strong institutions, and leaders prepared to take responsibility not only for balance sheets, but for the outcomes that affect people’s lives. You know, if Don were alive today, he would be at the centre of marshalling support for those affected by Hurricane Melissa,” Dr Holness added.

In recalling Wehby’s service as a senator and state minister for finance, the prime minister expressed that he was “puzzled as to why a well-paid executive in one of Jamaica’s leading corporate entities would go on sabbatical, give up his job, and come and work in the drudgery of government”. However, Holness acknowledged that this was just a reflection of Wehby’s character—his principles and ethics which guided his outlook.

On this note, Dr Holness emphasised that Wehby was never partisan despite his appointment by the Jamaica Labour Party, but had a “people first” approach to governance.

“He became one of my best friends in Cabinet…He was good counsel, he [gave] good advice, but make no mistake, he was also a good critic, if there is such a thing,” the prime minister expressed.

“For Don, it was Jamaica first, people first, what is right first, so, in those roles, Don was never ideological. He was practical, he was focused on what worked, what could be implemented, and what would endure. He believed that patriotism was expressed not through rhetoric, but through results, and he believed that Jamaica’s greatest constraint was not a lack of talent or ambition, but the failure to fully align our institutions to our aspirations,” Dr Holness added.

Don Wehby served in the Cabinet as minister from 2008 to 2011 and served as a Senator from 2016 to 2024.