The Board of Directors of Access Financial Services Limited (AFS) has appointed two new members following the receipt of ‘no-objection’ letters from the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) for Dr Tamiko Sadler and Johann Heaven. 

The appointments, which took effect on Monday, February 2, bring the number of directors to seven. With the addition of Dr Sadler, the number of independent directors moves to three, effectively boosting the Board’s corporate governance framework. 

Board Chairman, Michael Shaw and attorney-at-law Justine Collins are the other two independents. 

Heaven joins the board as a non-independent member along with founder, Marcus James, his father, Neville James and Charmaine Boyd-Walker. A seasoned commercial banker and accomplished entrepreneur, Dr Sadler assumes the role of chairman of two board committees—Audit & Risk Management and Corporate Governance.

With her appointment, the board gets the benefit of her experience, which covers the banking sector and the retail automotive industry for over 30 years. Co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Fleetmaster Truck Parts, Dr Sadler has a Doctorate in Business Administration from Florida International University. Heaven, the current Group President & CEO at PROVEN Management, brings almost 30 years of experience in the financial services sector to the AFS Board. 

His immediate board assignment is to the Audit & Risk Management Committee. A chartered financial analyst (CFA) Charter Holder, Heaven has held senior roles in the financial services sector. All regulatory bodies, including the Jamaica Stock Exchange, have been duly notified of the new board composition and committee assignments. 

The board and management have reiterated their commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance and integrity and to operate in accordance with the Junior Market Rules to deliver maximum returns for its shareholders and value for its customers. 

Access Financial Services remains a leader in the microfinance sector in Jamaica with a branch network of 17 locations across the island, and a wholly owned subsidiary, Embassy Loans Inc, in Florida, United States. 

Having played a pivotal role in transforming the financial landscape for underserved Jamaicans over the last 25 years, the company manages $8.11 billion in assets and a loan portfolio of $6.17 billion as at March 31, 2025.