Gordon Shirley to replace Douglas Orane as board chairman

Professor Gordon Shirley is to take over as Chairman of the Board of GraceKennedy effective January 1, 2014.

The announcement was made late last week by outgoing chairman Douglas Orane, who said the appointment was made by the board of directors at its meeting on February 28.

According to the company, this continues the process for the transformation of the board leadership which began with the separation of the roles of chairman and CEO on June 30, 2011 with the retirement of Orane as CEO, and his appointment as executive chairman for a period of one year to June 30, 2012.

At the end of that period, Orane was appointed to the position of non-executive board chairman for the period July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013.

With the appointment of Shirley, GraceKennedy will, for the first time, have an independent non-executive as its chairman.

Orane will remain on the GraceKennedy board after he vacates the chair on December 31, 2013.

"It is indeed a great privilege and honour for me to be asked to take on the role as board chairman for this great company," said Shirley.

" I am inspired by the outstanding track record of the current chairman, Mr Douglas Orane, and I am looking forward to working along with him over the next few months for a successful transition. I also look forward to working, as chairman, with the talented and energetic team of executives and the experienced and engaged board in meeting the ambitious targets and objectives of the company in the period ahead," added Shirley.

Confident in Shirley

For his part, Orane voiced confidence in Shirley.

"In his capacity as a member of the board of GraceKennedy for over 16 years, and more recently as chairman of the Corporate Governance & Nomination Committee of the board, Professor Shirley has demonstrated a high level of commitment, diligence and insight. We are indeed very happy that he has agreed to accept this new role," declared Orane.

Shirley has had a distinguished career as a diplomat, an educator and an administrator in higher education.

He is a pro vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies and principal of its Mona Campus.

He was appointed to the board of GraceKennedy Limited in May 1996 and has served as a board member since then, excluding a three-year period between June 2004 and May 2007 when he was granted leave of absence from the board to take up the position as Jamaican ambassador to the United States of America.