GraceKennedy Limited (GK) has announced additional leadership changes to its C-suite which are set to take effect in 2025 as part of the group’s succession plan.

Effective February 14, 2025, Andrea Coy will assume the role of CEO of GraceKennedy Foods, a move which will see her overseeing the division’s integrated domestic and international segments under a single leadership structure.

Since joining GraceKennedy in 2005 as Hi-Lo’s financial controller, Coy has held several key leadership roles within GK, including general manager of Hi-Lo Food Stores and World Brands Services, CEO of Hardware & Lumber, senior general manager of the GK Foods Global Category Management Unit, and CEO of GK Foods Domestic. She has led GK’s international food operations since 2018 and is a member of the GK Executive Committee. Under her leadership, both GK’s domestic and international food businesses recorded significant growth in revenues and profitability.

Coy holds a degree in accounting from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica. She specialises in Turnaround Management and has completed advanced studies in the field at Harvard Business School. She serves on the board of the Bank of Jamaica.

Later this year, following a distinguished 25-year career at GK, Grace Burnett will retire as CEO of the GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG), effective August 14, 2025. Upon her retirement, Steven Whittingham, the current deputy CEO of GKFG, will step into the role of CEO, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership.

From Grace Burnett to Steven Whittingham

Burnett joined GK in 2000 and has held several key leadership roles within the group. She previously served as managing director of GK General Insurance and Allied Insurance Brokers, where she led strategic operations for GK’s insurance business. From 2014 to 2019, she was the CEO of GK’s insurance segment, driving growth and innovation in the sector. An attorney-at-law, she has been the CEO of GKFG since 2016 and holds the position of president and CEO of GraceKennedy Money Services. She is also a member of the GK Executive Committee.  

With a proven track record of expertise in customer service, operations, and talent development, Burnett has earned accolades both within GK and externally. Her outstanding contributions to the insurance industry and exemplary leadership were formally recognised in 2024 when she received the prestigious Insurance Association of Jamaica Leadership Excellence Award.

Whittingham joined GK in 2013 and has been deputy CEO of GKFG since 2022, overseeing the group’s insurance segment, merchant banking, and investment portfolios. He is a member of the GK Executive Committee and leads GK’s digital transformation. He has held various leadership roles within GK, including chief investment officer of GraceKennedy Limited, chief operating officer of GKFG, president of First Global Financial Services, and managing director of GK Capital Management. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in driving GK’s expansion through strategic mergers, acquisitions, and greenfield start-ups, consistently delivering impressive growth across portfolios.

Whittingham holds dual degrees in Systems Engineering and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2024 he was appointed chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, and he has served on several public and private sector boards.

Succession planning

These announcements come as GK prepares for another major leadership transition later this week. Last month, the company confirmed that Group CEO Don Wehby will retire on February 14, 2025, stepping down from the board of directors after a distinguished tenure. He will be succeeded by Frank James, the current CEO of GK Foods Domestic and former group CFO.

“GraceKennedy remains steadfast in its commitment to executing its strategy and ensuring excellence across all its operations. These leadership changes align with the company’s commitment to fostering a performance-driven culture while promoting innovation and consumer centricity,” the conglomerate outlined.

“As the GK team strives to achieve its vision of becoming the number one Caribbean brand in the world, these appointments will provide continuity and strategically position GraceKennedy for sustained growth and innovation in the years ahead,” it concluded.