Grace Kennedy Head Office
Group Chief Executive Officer, Don Wehby.
Grace Kennedy senior management undergoes major changes at the start of 2018, a report from the Group stated.
Andrea Coy will be appointed CEO of GK Foods International Business a position previously held by Ryan Mack. Grace Kennedy’s manufacturing and distribution operations in the USA, Canada and the UK will fall under Coy’s remit as well as the Company’s continued expansion into West Africa and Europe. Andrea will also have responsibility for Grace Kennedy’s distribution operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Andrea has had a series of achievements during her career at Grace Kennedy and has successfully led the transformation and growth of several companies within the Group. I am confident that she will do a tremendous job in ensuring Grace Kennedy continues to deliver on its mission to become a Global Consumer Group,” Wehby said.
Ryan Mack will take up the role of CEO of GK Foods Domestic Business and will be responsible for the Hi Lo Food Stores, GK’s Manufacturing Operations in Jamaica, GK’s local Distribution Operations which comprises of Grace Foods & Services, World Brands Services and Consumer Brands Limited. Ryan has held several senior roles across the Group and will bring key learnings gained from his years in the UK and the USA.
Andrea Coy
In making the announcements, Wehby indicated that “Ryan Mack is well respected internationally in the foods business and we are extremely happy to have him back in Jamaica to build on the significant growth that we have been experiencing in these core areas. I am very confident that these changes will improve efficiencies and further streamline the organisation allowing us to achieve the stated growth objectives for 2018 and beyond.”
Derrick Reckord will be appointed to act as President and CEO of Grace Kennedy Foods. During his time with the Company Reckord has been instrumental in developing and growing GK’s business in the US. Prior to his appointment in his current role as Senior Vice President of the US operations in 2014, Derrick led the Company’s development of its US and Caribbean export markets.
Margaret Campbell, currently Chief Financial Officer of GKMS, will be appointed Country Manager for the Jamaican operations. GKMS is the exclusive agent for Western Union in Jamaica and several Caribbean countries.
Steven Whittingham, will be appointed to the Company’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which is chaired by the Group CEO, has executive leadership responsibility for overseeing the Group’s operations.
Whittingham will continue in his roles as Chief Investment Officer for the Grace Kennedy Group and Managing Director of GK Capital Management and GK Investments. Whittingham has significant experience in investments, mergers and acquisition and entrepreneurial management in the USA, Europe and the Caribbean.
