Donovan Lewis, prominent Jamaican portfolio investor, will be the next guest speaker at St George’s College’s lecture series ‘A Knight’s Dialogue’, Our Today has been informed.

This discourse features leading business personalities and other luminaries giving an account of how they were able to succeed and reflecting on their journey. They also provide insightful advice to attending students. 

A Knight’s Dialogue was conceived by Stephen Hill. The maiden lecture featured Jason Sharpe talking about the founding and expansion of Coffee Traders and the ability to withstand the vicissitudes of running a business.

The second in the series, which took place last month, had founder and chairman of Deltana Enterprises, Phillip Wong, as the special guest speaker. Wong is a St George’s old boy who graduated in 1959. He went on to build one of the most successful hardware and lock retailing businesses in Florida. He is a major benefactor to St George’s College and has granted many scholarships over the years.

In December, Lewis, the founder and chairman of the Ideal Group of Companies, which includes food company Salada and finance house Ideal Finance Corporation (founded in 1991), will take to the podium at St George’s College auditorium and tell of his journey to building successful companies.

Lewis is the leading individual investor in Jamaica, with major shareholdings in GraceKennedy, NCB, Scotia Group Jamaica, the PanJam Group, Berger Paints, Sagicor and Carreras. He also has large shareholdings in some of the world’s largest blue-chip companies, including Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Exxon Mobil, Citi, and Goldman Sachs.

Deputy-Chairman of the Mother’s Group, Ravi Rambarran, said of Donovan Lewis, “He is the greatest investor in the Caribbean. Donovan Lewis and his group of companies have never gone to the public for money in the form of bonds, IPO’s, APOs, or any kind of raise.”

Always affable yet understated, Donovan’s advice is prescient and well-sought out. Today’s up-and-coming business personalities in Jamaica would do well to take a leaf or two out of his book and note the way he comports himself-he is a man of honour and of his word.

If Warren Buffett is the ‘Oracle of Omaha’, then Donovan Lewis is ‘Kingston’s King of Investments’.  

It is hoped that at the next iteration of St George’s College’s ‘A Knight’s Dialogue’, Donovan Lewis will impart some words of wisdom as to what to look for when making investments.