Durrant Pate/ Contributor

National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCBJ) has announced a leadership transition, which will see the departure of CEO, Bruce Bowen and the promotion of Sheree Martin to fill his vacancy.

The announcement was made Monday morning by NCBJ Chairman, Robert Almeida in a letter to team members. In that letter, Almeida noted that in 2023, Bowen was appointed to guide the bank through a critical turnaround period noting.

“That phase of work is now largely complete, and as we move into the next stage of sustainable growth, Bruce will be leaving the organisation on February 28, 2026 to pursue other interests. We thank him sincerely for his leadership and contribution during this important period in the Bank’s journey,” he said.

As Bowen will be proceeding on vacation leave prior to his departure, Almeida announces that Martin, the current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed to act as Interim Chief Executive Officer of NCBJ, effective today, January 19.

Martin brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in the financial services sector, with deep expertise in strategy execution and organisational transformation, as well as senior‑level experience in the energy sector. Since assuming the role of chief operating officer, she has overseen several of the bank’s most critical operational and technology functions and has played a key role in strengthening execution discipline, operational resilience, and performance consistency across the organisation.

According to the NCBJ Chairman, “This transition reflects continuity and leadership depth. Our strategy, priorities and commitment to our customers, employees and other stakeholders remain unchanged. We remain the People’s Bank, firmly focused on being the undisputed Financial Partner of Choice.”

Almeida advises staff that as the bank moves forward, the emphasis will continue to be on disciplined execution, consistent value creation and shared accountability, building on the strong foundation already in place, thanking them for their “continued professionalism and commitment to our customers and to each other as we enter this next chapter together”.