Two deputy CEOs appointed along with chief people officer

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica’s leading media company, RJRGLEANER Communications Group has made a number of management changes at its senior level.

The changes, which were announced  by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gary Allen, will see the appointment of two deputy CEOs, a chief people officer and a change in title to chief strategy officer for its current Chief Operating Officer Christopher Barnes.

The function of Chief Operating Officer was mainly focused on group strategic projects since 2019 when Barnes was appointed to that position.

Smith to take over GCML

Anthony Smith, an experienced business and technology executive, joins the group on October 1, as Deputy CEO-Print and Digital Services, which also places the general management of The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited (GCML) under his responsibility.

Barnes will hand over the operations of GCML, where he was serving as general manager (Interim) since February, to Smith. The group further aims to establish an Enterprise Project Management Office for oversight of all major projects implemented in the group.

This will be pursued by the Chief Strategy Officer.

Dr Claire Grant, who had been general manager for radio and television, has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer-Broadcast Services and Group Content Development.

This includes the general management functions for Radio, Television, Cable Services, Multimedia Services and group-wide content development.

The appointments are in addition to the seasoned leadership roles held by Chief Financial Officer Andrea Wilson-Messam and Chief Technology Officer held by engineer, technologist and project management executive, Michael Henlin.

In making the announcements, Allen remarked: “I am very pleased at the depth of experience we can draw on and the fresh expertise we are tapping into in making these changes.”

The CEO also noted that the group is continuing its aggressive digital television transitioning, as well as its preparation for the amalgamation of the operations of 1834 Investments Limited, which its shareholders approved for the RJRGLEANER Communications Group to acquire in mid-August.

Continuing, Allen said: “Our group has been committed to ongoing dynamism in our digital transformation of an analogue media business to a digitally driven media and communications enterprise. These changes underpin that thrust and lay the foundation for another set of expansion activities to come in the marketplace.”