BPO pioneer Patrick Casserly dead at 58
Published:Thursday | January 16, 2025 | 12:15 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Pioneering entrepreneur Patrick Casserly, who died yesterday while being treated at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James, has been lauded for leaving a legacy that reshaped Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.
He died after a prolonged battle with cancer.
As word of his death moved across the island, those who knew the 58-year-old former eServices Group International chief executive officer, spoke of his transformative contributions to the industry, his visionary approach to business, and dedication to his country.
Attorney-at-law Gordon Brown, a childhood friend who watched him take his last breath, reflected on Casserly’s impact.
“Patrick was a business leader who was at least one generation ahead of his time. He loved this country and its people passionately, warts and all. He was fiercely loyal to his friends and quietly supported many,” Brown said.
Brown emphasised Casserly’s role in advancing Jamaica’s outsourcing industry.
“He saw Jamaica through the prism of the possible, not as it is. By pioneering the outsourcing business, he laid the foundation for the industry as we know it today,” he stated, adding that generations of young entrepreneurs have Casserly to thank for his innovative business models and attention to detail.
“I will miss him greatly as a friend and as a true visionary,” Brown said.
Gloria Henry, vice-president of BPO and Logistics at the Port Authority of Jamaica, highlighted Casserly’s achievements through his company, eServices.
“Patrick Casserly was an entrepreneur whose innovative mind and commitment to the sector created the largest locally owned outsourcing company in Jamaica at the time. His contributions not only generated thousands of jobs but also cultivated leaders who now helm large multinational companies,” Henry said.
She also acknowledged his influence within the Montego Bay Free Zone community.
“Patrick was an excellent member of our community, and his legacy is deeply etched into the history of the Free Zone and Jamaica’s BPO sector. His passing is a tremendous loss, but his contributions will remain a cornerstone of our industry,” she said, extending condolences to his family and friends.
Illustrious career
One of his first bosses after he returned from studying overseas, Maureen Webber, said she watched his growth from strength to strength.
“We were very close. He was one of those persons who you could not pull back,” she stated, her admiration of his determination obvious.
Casserly, who had an illustrious career, even after being the industry leader in nearshore infomatics in Jamaica, served as director on the boards of the Free Zone, JAMPRO, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and the Trade Board.
He also served as president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2010.
Born in Kingston on April 6, 1966, Casserly was educated at Campion College, The University of the West Indies, Mona, and the University of North Carolina in the United States (US). Between 1988 and 1995, he worked as sales representative of New Era Computers in the US, and later, operations manager of Regional Autodesk Distributor in Asheville, North Carolina.
He returned to Jamaica in mid-1995 and was appointed marketing manager at Eagle Information Systems.
He founded eServices in 2000, employing 35 staff. Within six years he had a staff of 2,600, with operations in Montego Bay, Kingston, and the Eastern Caribbean island of St Lucia.