RJRGLEANER Group chairman Lester Spaulding dies

Chairman of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group J Lester Spaulding has died.

Spaulding died in Andrews Memorial Hospital this morning after ailing for some time.

He was 76.

Spaulding was due to retire as group chairman at the end of the year.

Chief Executive Officer of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group Gary Allen, said, in a meeting with Spaulding a week ago, the chairman was concerned that he was not responding as expected to his treatment and so he was taken to the hospital on Monday where he was admitted.

He described Spaulding as a fierce competitor in media, but one who was loved by his competitors.

"From one radio station to leading a group operating radio, television, multimedia, print and cable operations … I don’t know any other media professional who has been able to do that," Allen said.

The RJRGLEANER Group CEO said Spaulding was always excited about new things especially technology in media.

He also said Spaulding has left in place, a proper structure to continue a viable operation of the media entity.

Spaulding is survived by his widow, Lindamarie, two sons and two daughters.

About Lester Spaulding

Born in Kingston on April 1, 1941

Educated: 
Half-Way Tree Primary School
Kingston College
College of Arts Science and Technology

Career: 
PricewaterhouseCoopers - 1959 -1964
Chief clerk, Radio Jamaica - 1965 - 1968
Chief accountant, Radio Jamaica - 1969 - 1977
Managing director, Radio Jamaica - 1978 - 2008
Chairman, Radio Jamaica - 1995 - 2016
Chairman, RJRGLEANER Communications Group - 2016

Honours and awards:
Order of Distinction, Commander Class
Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica’s Millennium Man Award
Caribbean Media Corporation Award of Excellence for Leadership
Caribbean Peer Awards lifetime Achievement Award