PM, Opposition Leader lead tributes to GraceKennedy titan Don Wehby

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding on Sunday led national tributes to Don Wehby, the former GraceKennedy Group Chief Executive Officer, hailing him as a visionary leader whose legacy straddles the worlds of business, governance, and public service.

Holness remembered Wehby for his "professional excellence" and "transformational leadership,” while Golding described him as “a personal friend" whose contributions "played a meaningful part in Jamaica’s recent development story".

Wehby, who had been ailing, died Saturday night at the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew. He was 62.

In a statement, GraceKennedy said the company was “deeply saddened” by the passing of its former chief executive, describing him as “a remarkable leader who embodied selfless service..."

Wehby retired in February after more than three decades at the food and finance conglomerate.

During his tenure as Group CEO from 2011 to 2025, Don Wehby more than doubled GraceKennedy’s revenue, from $58 billion in 2011 to $155 billion in 2023, according to the company. He also spearheaded an aggressive mergers and acquisitions strategy that expanded the 103-year-old conglomerate’s footprint across the Caribbean, North and Central America, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

In addition to corporate involvement, Wehby also served Jamaica in the Senate and as Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service between 2007 and 2009. He was reappointed to the Upper House in 2016 and resigned in November 2024. A month before, he went on leave from GraceKennedy to focus on his health.

The Government of Jamaica awarded him the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2017 and the Order of Jamaica - the country's fourth highest honour in 2024.

He was born on July 14, 1963. He is survived by his wife, Hilary, and their three children.

Tributes:

The Family of Don Wehby

"With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Don, who died peacefully on July 26, surrounded by his family. Don was a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend whose unwavering faith and generosity touched countless lives. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this time and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve."

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness

"Don was known not just for his professional excellence but for his character, kind, gracious, deeply principled, and unwaveringly committed to Jamaica’s future. He served with integrity as Government Senator and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance from September 2007 to October 2009, and again in the Senate from 2016 onward, always offering wisdom, mentorship, and a firm belief in the potential of his homeland. His passing is a tremendous loss for his loving family, for the colleagues and communities he uplifted, and for the nation he so passionately served. But Don Wehby’s legacy endures, in the lives he mentored, in the institutions he helped build, and in the ideals he championed. To his family, your loss is deeply felt."

Opposition Leader Mark Golding

"Don Wehby’s contributions to public policy and private enterprise have played a meaningful part in Jamaica’s recent development story. His passing represents the close of a chapter of national service. He was a personal friend, who I got to know well during the years I served as a director on the board of GraceKennedy Limited and as their legal counsel in various transactions."

GraceKennedy

"Don was a remarkable leader who embodied selfless service, unwavering integrity, and a deep love for his family, GraceKennedy, and his beloved homeland, Jamaica. His visionary leadership and dedication to nation-building have left an enduring mark on our company and country. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he uplifted and the generations he inspired."

Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party's Communication Taskforce, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley

"The passing of Don Wehby is a very sad day for us in the Jamaica Labour Party and indeed a sombre moment for our country. Don was an incredible Jamaican who shone his light of excellence in several areas of national life, including business, sports, policymaking, and the legislature."

Senate President, Tom Tavares-Finson, KC

"Don's passing has left us with a tremendous sense of loss. It was public knowledge that he was ailing, but we had hoped for the best. Don's contribution to debates in the Senate was always impactful, sober, and incisive. Above all, he was a decent human being who operated with integrity, compassion, and a sincere commitment to the advancement of Jamaica."

Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith

"Don Wehby's contribution to national life spanned several sectors, including politics, corporate Jamaica, the diaspora, sports, and philanthropy. He was absolutely committed to each and every one, and his impact is indelible. His life serves as an example - one characterised by decency, principle, dedication, and a deep and distinguished commitment to nation-building. He will no doubt inspire generations to come. Don is one of Jamaica's finest sons."

People's National Party

"Mr Wehby was a respected figure in both public service and the private sector, whose work left a lasting mark on Jamaica’s economic and corporate landscape. His tenure at the helm of GraceKennedy saw significant expansion, innovation, and the strengthening of one of Jamaica’s most iconic companies. In his time as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, he brought the discipline and insight of a private sector leader to the halls of government."

Gordon Swaby, CEO of EduFocal

"Truly saddened to hear of the passing of Don Wehby, former CEO of GraceKennedy and a pillar of corporate Jamaica. His legacy and impact in both the private and public sectors will never be forgotten."

Debbie Bissoon, media presenter, producer

"Sir Don Wheby. Thank you for touching the lives of so many while you were here."

Therese Turner-Jones, former General Manager of the Caribbean Country Department at the Inter-American Development Bank

"What a loss to his family and Jamaica. Condolences."

Dennis Chung, Chief Technical Director, Financial Investigations Division

"This one really hit hard. I have known Don for a very long time, and he always had words of encouragement, and I know he loved Jamaica. The time he spent on the national scene, he did it for love of country. ... Everything I did, he was one of four persons to always call me and express confidence and give me some pointers. ...Don was never a flashy person. he just believed in the mission for Jamaica."

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