Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group (MMS) has announced a number of organisational changes and staff movements, including the resignation of Garth Hinchcliffe from his position as deputy chief executive office, effective December 22, 2022.

In a letter to Mr Hinchcliffe acknowledging receipt of his resignation, MMS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe said: “Management uses this opportunity to express appreciation for your contribution during your tenure and wishes you success in the future.”

Coming out of the organisation’s annual retreat earlier this year, Mrs Stewart-Hinchcliffe said the MMS Board of Directors and shareholders, of which Mr Hinchcliffe is a member, have been executing the agreed actions in keeping with the 20-year development plan to expand the organisation as it continues to implement strategies to make its products and services available islandwide.

“We have been looking at ways to strengthen the management structure as the Group continues to grow and have brought several new people on board, especially during the course of this year.”

These include recently appointed General Manager Marketing, Sales, and Distribution Mitchell Watson, who comes to MMS with a wealth of experience in sales and distribution, marketing management, finance, and retailing.

Watson, who has worked in a number of sectors including sport, the beverage industry and tourism, among others, will have oversight not only for the marketing operations of the Group but also for sales and distribution through the retail arm of the organisation which includes managing MMS Sales and Distribution Limited at Collins Green Avenue in Kingston which was launched in 2021, and The Clean Store that was opened in Drax Hall, St Ann in October of this year.

Through these stores, consumers can now purchase retail and wholesale cleaning, sanitisation, landscaping, and pest control equipment and supplies. Similar facilities are expected to be opened in other areas across the island and the MMS branches in Montego Bay and Mandeville are also being transformed into retail and distribution outlets.

Also joining the company is the new principal for the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED), Karen Gayle.

According to Mrs Hinchcliffe, Gayle she has been recruited “to give effect to the requirements for the new structure regarding IWED’s new status as a ‘higher education institutions (tertiary level)”.

RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING OVERALL FUNCTIONS OF IWED

An educator, trainer, administrator, and higher education specialist, Gayle brings to the position experience in teaching, standards and workforce development, programme development, strategic management, among other skills. She has previously worked with a number of educational institutions across the island, including at the tertiary and secondary levels as well as in vocational training.

She will be responsible for managing the overall functions of IWED which include training, human resource and administrative functions, the development, review, and implementation of policies, procedures, and monitoring mechanisms to measure compliance and ultimately the delivery of quality training programmes. 

Well known businessman Wayne Chen is also on board as IWED’s new chairman, succeeding Dr Canute Thompson of the University of the West Indies (UWI), who resigned due to “conflict of interest” with his new job functions. Director of education and training at IWED Verica Bennett-Davidson, will demit office at the end of November 2022, leaving a vacancy that is also to be filled. A director of administration is also to be appointed.

In keeping with succession planning, the search is now on for a new Group CEO.

 Mrs. Hinchcliffe said: “The Board of Directors is now looking at top management with a view towards appointing a new Group CEO for the organisation whose job will be to oversee the day-to-day operations and continued expansion of Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group.”

The new recruit is expected to take office in February 2023.

Mrs Hinchcliffe will remain with the Group as executive chairman.