Fresh from announcing a changing of the top guard at Jamaican conglomerate, GraceKennedy Limited (GK), it has announced more management changes.

The 102-year-old company, which will see the departure next month of its current CEO Don Wehby, is announcing the appointment of Debra Dodd to the role of divisional chief financial officer of GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) and Kerry-Ann Lincoln as GK Foods’ new divisional chief financial officer.

These appointments took effect on January 1.

Wehby, who will retire as CEO as well as a director of the board on February 14, will be replaced by Frank James, the current CEO of GK’s domestic foods division and former group CFO.

Cultivating strong leadership 

Within their respective divisions, Debra and Kerry-Ann will provide key support to strengthen financial management and business outcomes and maintain robust internal controls. 

Commenting on the movements, GraceKennedy CFO Andrew Messado says, “These appointments underscore our focus on cultivating strong leadership and ensuring robust succession planning across the group. Debra and Kerry-Ann bring extensive experience and proven expertise, along with strategic and operational capabilities, to their new roles. We are confident that their leadership will strengthen the group’s performance, contributing meaningfully to our continued growth and long-term goals.” 

Dodd’s career in finance spans over 20 years, including the past 12 years at GK in various roles – commencing as senior audit manager then to chief audit executive. Lincoln has over 20 years experience in finance and joined GK in 2014 as senior accounting manager.

Prior to her recent appointment, she also held the roles of financial controller (banking and investments – GKFG), group comptroller, and most recently on assignment as the chief financial officer at Grace Foods UK Limited. She is a chartered accountant and certified fraud examiner with a BSc in accounting and economics.