Board of Directors
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Dr. Glen Christian, OJ, OD, JP
Chairman
CloseDr. Glen Christian, OJ, OD, JP
Chairman
Glen Christian worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 18 years before starting his first pharmaceutical distribution company, Cari-Med Limited, with three employees. Today, the Cari-Med Group is the number one pharmaceutical distributor in the Caribbean and one of the top five companies in the distribution of fast-moving Consumer Goods. The Group employs over 900 persons.
Glen’s record of service and achievement has earned him numerous honours and awards from the Jamaican government and private sector. His list of national honours includes the Governor General’s Award for Community Service; the Order of Distinction; and the Order of Jamaica.
In 2014, he was inducted into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s Hall of Fame, and in 2019 was presented with the prestigious International Humanitarian Award from the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) for his philanthropic work.
He has been recognized by his alma mater, the Mico University College, with an honorary Doctor of Education degree; and is also the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Technology, and the University of the West Indies.
He is Chairman of the fundraising committee of the Healing Ministry of Bethel Baptist Church, and is also a member of the board of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
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Marva Christian
Company Secretary
CloseMarva Christian
Company Secretary
Marva Christian is a graduate of Mico College (now The Mico University College), and co-founder and director of Cari-Med Group Limited. A committed educator, Mrs. Christian has taught at all levels of the Jamaican public school system. She taught for a year (1967-68), at Frankfield Primary in Clarendon, before moving on to Clarendon College where she taught for two years. She also taught from 1971 to 1979 at the Spanish Town Secondary High School.
She successfully transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry in the 1980s, operating a retail pharmacy along with her husband, Glen, prior to joining Cari-Med in 1987 in the capacity of Credit Manager. She served in that position until 2004 when she assumed the role of Director of Credit. Her astute business skills have contributed to the Group’s strong financial standing.
Marva is a director of the Open Arms Development Centre, and the Wortley Home for Girls, where she has assisted several young ladies with job placement and accessing higher studies. She also serves on the Board of the Evelyn Mitchell Infant School/Centre of Excellence.
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CloseLeighton McKnight
Leighton McKnight brings to the Board over 36 years of extensive and diversified experience in areas such as audit, taxation, financial management, reporting, business advisory services, and management consulting.
Leighton recently retired as the Territory Leader/Senior Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers [PwC] Jamaica, one of the premier professional services firms in the island. He was also the firm’s markets’ leader and a member of PwC Caribbean Region’s Core Leadership Team where he served as the Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Leader. He also served as the region’s Advisory Leader and locally as managing partner, assurance leader and human capital leader.
He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies; a graduate of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, and a Fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
He is currently an Executive in Residence at the Mona School of Business and Management at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
Leighton is a renowned member of the Kiwanis International movement and currently is a Trustee on its Eastern Canada & the Caribbean District board. He has given decades of service to this organization and his contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards.
In 2013, he was appointed to the Order of Distinction, Commander Class by the Government of Jamaica for outstanding contribution in the area of Public Service, Philanthropy and Community Service.
He is married to Dr. Novelette McKnight and is the proud father of son, Diego.
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CloseDennis Grant
Dennis Grant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cari-Med Group. In this role, he supports the Office of the Chairman and Executive Committee to drive the execution of key strategic initiatives for the Group and develop, evaluate and execute plans for growth.
Dennis has worked for over 25 years in the field of accounting in the financial and distribution sectors. He joined Cari-Med Limited in 1991, as Financial Controller and was appointed General Manager in 2006.
He was named to the U.S.A. National MBA Dean’s List in 1995. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons.) in Business Administration (BBA) specializing in Finance from the University of Technology, Jamaica (formerly the College of Arts, Science & Technology).
He is a member of the Boards of Directors of Cari-Med Group Limited, Kirk-FP Limited, and the Bellevue Hospital.
He is a sports enthusiast and is married, with three children.
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CloseLanna Bennett
Lanna Bennett joined Cari-Med Ltd. in 1996, as Marketing Manager. In 2009, she was appointed General Manager of Kirk Distributors Ltd. She has over twenty-five years’ experience in sales and marketing, representing leading international brands of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and pharmaceutical products across Caribbean markets. She has worked with multinational companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis Consumer (formerly Gerber Products).
She has a wealth of experience in transitioning new businesses, following mergers and acquisitions.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Florida International University (FIU), and a Bachelor’s degree in Education (B.Ed.) from the University of Technology, Jamaica (formerly the College of Arts, Science & Technology).
She is a member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM), London.
She is married and has two children.
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CloseGregory Christian
Gregory Christian joined Cari-Med Limited in 1999, as a sales representative in the Pharmaceutical Division. Over the years he has worked in various areas of the company, developing extensive knowledge of sales and marketing, logistics, and retail distribution. He has been part of the redevelopment and modernization of Cari-Med, and currently holds the position of Group Business Development Director.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing from the University of Nova South-Eastern.
In 2016 he was appointed to the Boards of the Standards Council of the Bureau of Standards and the Management Committee of Kingston Public/Victoria Jubilee Hospitals. He is also a member of the Board of the Face Place.
He is an avid tennis fan.
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CloseHuntley Dilworth
Huntley Dilworth joined Cari-Med Limited in 2006, as Financial Controller.
He is a qualified accountant having completed the CPA examination. His work experience spans over 25 years in the fields of financial management, international banking, accounting, and auditing locally and internationally.
He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Studies from The University of the West Indies.
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CloseSonia Stewart-Gordon
Sonia Stewart-Gordon retired as Director of Human Resource and Administration at Cari-Med Group Limited in 2018 after a 30-year tenure during which she was instrumental in the development of the company’s Human Resources Department.
During her tenure at Cari-Med, she represented the Group on the General Council of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation and on the Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS.
Sonia is a graduate of The University of the West Indies (UWI), where she earned an MBA in H.R. Development, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Management Studies. She also holds a Certificate in Principles & Techniques of Counseling from The University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies, and is a Certified Life Coach.
She is an active member of her local church community and is involved in outreach programmes through the Sunset Optimist Club of Kingston.
She is the mother of two daughters and a son.
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CloseHarry Smith
Harry Smith has over 35 years of experience at the senior management level primarily in marketing some of Jamaica’s best-known brands. He holds an MBA in Marketing and a BSc. Gen (Hons) both from the University of the West Indies, Mona. He also completed executive education at both Wharton and Kellogg Graduate schools in the USA. He currently serves as Executive-in-Residence at Mona School of Business and Management, UWI.
He also serves as a Non Executive Director for firms in the telecommunications, property management, pharmaceuticals, fast moving consumer goods, health care, hardware and agricultural retail industries. Harry is a Lay Magistrate and a Justice of the Peace for St. Andrew.
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CloseMinna Israel
A former banker with over 30 years of corporate, commercial and retail banking experience; Minna held senior executive positions, serving as President & Country Head of RBC Royal Bank (Jamaica) and Managing Director of Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited. She has extensive Board service experience, gaining a strong understanding of a wide variety of businesses. She currently serves on the boards of First Global Bank, Radio Jamaica Limited, Jamaica Public Service Company, Stanley Motta Limited, the Mona School of Business & Management, and Quadrant Home Developers Ltd, and is a member of the Rating Committee of Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services (CariCRIS).
Minna holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the Western University, Canada, and a BSc Degree in Management Studies from The UWI, where she was also awarded a UWI Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2011, and a Diploma from the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH).
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CloseClement Hugh Lloyd ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence, CD
Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence has over four decades of experience in leading private sector manufacturing, marketing, and distribution companies in Jamaica. He began his career with Colgate Palmolive Company (Jamaica) Limited in 1978, where he served in various key leadership capacities within manufacturing operations, including positions in Manufacturing Systems and Production Management.
In 1995, he joined the former Lascelles deMercado Group, serving in senior leadership positions in the various subsidiaries including Federated Pharmaceuticals Limited, Lascelles Limited, Agricultural Chemicals Limited, Lascelles Laboratories Limited, Plastic Containers Limited and, finally, J. Wray & Nephew Limited, a Campari Group Company, where he served as Chief Operating Officer (Production, Sales & Marketing); Managing Director and, ultimately, as Chairman of that company. He has also served as Chairman of the J. Wray & Nephew Foundation. Currently he serves as Chairman of the Spirits Pool Association Limited, Caribbean Molasses Company (Jamaica) Limited and the Sugar Industry Authority.
Jimmy is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where he gained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He also has pursued management and leadership training, both locally and internationally.
In 2017 he was recognized by the Government of Jamaica and was awarded the Order of Distinction, in the Rank of Commander Class (CD), for invaluable contribution to the Spirits Industry and Economic Development.
He is married to Dr Monica Lawrence and is the father of two children.