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Frank James turns into CEO of GraceKennedy on Friday.
GraceKennedy Restricted (GK) is reshaping its management construction, inserting its whole meals division—each home and worldwide—underneath one chief for the primary time.
Efficient February 14, 2025, Andrea Coy will tackle the newly expanded position of CEO of GraceKennedy Meals, a transfer that indicators a strategic shift in how the conglomerate manages one among its most important enterprise segments. In the meantime, Steven Whittingham will take over as CEO of GraceKennedy Monetary Group (GKFG) in August.
Coy’s promotion displays GK’s drive for better operational effectivity and world enlargement in its meals enterprise, which has been a core income driver for the corporate. The combination of GK’s home and worldwide meals operations underneath a single chief is a departure from earlier management buildings, the place the 2 segments have been managed individually. Till now, Frank James—who is about to take over as group CEO on the identical date—held the home meals portfolio, whereas Coy oversaw the worldwide enterprise.
The transfer additionally ensures continuity at a time when Jamaican meals manufacturers are increasing past conventional Caribbean markets, competing with multinational gamers in North America and Europe.
Coy, a GK veteran of practically twenty years, has been instrumental in increasing the corporate’s world meals distribution and driving profitability throughout a number of markets. Over the previous two years, she has demonstrated her potential to navigate complicated world markets, significantly throughout one of the vital difficult post-pandemic durations marked by provide chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, and rising distribution prices.
Regardless of these obstacles, GK efficiently expanded its world distribution footprint, strengthening partnerships with main retailers corresponding to Walmart, Publix, Kroger, Tesco, and Asda. Beneath her path, GK additionally shifted its worldwide logistics technique from direct-to-store deliveries to a warehouse distribution mannequin, enhancing effectivity and repair ranges. Product innovation was one other key focus, with 13 new product launches, focused advertising campaigns, and elevated funding in core manufacturers corresponding to Grace, La Fe, Nurishment, and Encona serving to to drive shopper loyalty and income progress. These efforts contributed to triple-digit revenue progress in Canada, whereas GK Meals USA maintained income momentum regardless of tightening market circumstances
The restructuring follows a interval of robust monetary efficiency, with GK recording $126.39 billion in income for the primary 9 months of 2024, a 7.3 per cent improve year-over-year. The meals section stays GK’s dominant income driver, accounting for over 78 per cent of whole earnings.
Coy’s appointment comes amid GK’s ongoing government transition, as the corporate prepares for the departure of longtime Group CEO Don Wehby and the elevation of Frank James to the highest submit. The timing is important, as GK will have a good time its 103rd anniversary on February 14, aligning these management adjustments with a key milestone within the firm’s historical past.
Wehby, who has led GK for practically 15 years, took a brief depart of absence for well being causes in October 2024, with Group CFO Andrew Messado overseeing day-to-day operations in his absence. Whereas Wehby will formally retire on Friday, his management has been instrumental in increasing GK’s footprint in monetary providers and strengthening its regional presence.
Alongside Coy’s expanded position, Whittingham has been named as the following CEO of GraceKennedy Monetary Group (GKFG), taking on in August 2025 following the retirement of Grace Burnett. With a observe document of driving mergers, acquisitions, and digital transformation, Whittingham’s tenure is predicted to deal with increasing GK’s monetary providers footprint in an more and more aggressive regional banking and fintech panorama.
Since becoming a member of GraceKennedy in 2013, Whittingham has performed a pivotal position in shaping the corporate’s monetary progress technique. As deputy CEO of GK Monetary Group (GKFG) since 2022, he has led the group’s insurance coverage section, service provider banking, and funding portfolios, whereas additionally spearheading GraceKennedy’s digital transformation efforts.
A key determine in GK’s government management, Whittingham has navigated high-stakes mergers, acquisitions, and greenfield start-ups, driving constant portfolio progress. His tenure has seen him tackle a number of high-impact roles, together with chief funding officer of GraceKennedy Restricted, chief working officer of GKFG, president of First International Monetary Companies, and managing director of GK Capital Administration.
“GraceKennedy stays steadfast in its dedication to executing its technique and making certain excellence throughout all its operations. These management adjustments align with the corporate’s dedication to fostering a performance-driven tradition whereas selling innovation and shopper centricity,” the corporate stated in a press assertion.
— Karena Bennett
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