Businessman and economist Dhiru Tanna has died

Business leader and economist Dhiru Tanna has died, a development confirmed Tuesday by Jamaica National Group Chief Executive Officer Earl Jarrett, who said he had been with Tanna in the days leading up to his passing.

“We already have confirmation that he has died,” Jarrett said in an interview, describing the loss as sudden, even though Tanna had been ill for some time.

“As you would recognise, it’s a rather sudden death, even though he has been somewhat sick for a number of months, if not years.”

Jarrett, who served alongside Tanna for decades, said the late businessman had been a director of Jamaica National for 45 years, bringing a steady, analytical approach shaped by his academic background.

“He was a knowledgeable person. He was an economist by training. His PhD was in economics. He brought to the table his tremendous experience in business, academia, and government service,” Jarrett said.

Born in Uganda, Tanna migrated to Jamaica after being introduced to the country by his close friend, Professor Marshall Hall.

He joined the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies, where he earned a reputation as a gifted teacher, before moving into public service with responsibility for aspects of Jamaica’s energy portfolio, including early work involving the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).

Tanna later built a formidable private sector career, serving as chief executive of Neal & Massy’s Jamaican operations and playing a pivotal role in major acquisitions, including the landmark purchase of the Geddes Grant Group. He went on to found enterprises such as Lumber Depot and Blue Power, the latter becoming a well-known local manufacturing brand.

Over his career, Tanna served on several corporate boards and was widely regarded as a calm, data-driven director.

Jarrett noted that Tanna had stepped down as chairman of Blue Power in recent times.

For Jarrett, the loss is deeply personal.

“For me, in particular, he was a source of support, mentorship, and guidance,” he said, adding that he had been at the hospital daily in the period before Tanna’s death.

neville.graham@gleanerjm.com

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