KINGSTON Wharves Group has appointed Derek Jones as its non-executive chairman, effective July 1, 2010 and has shifted the responsibility of the CEO of the cargo-handling firm, Grantley Stephenson, who straddled both roles since 2004, towards focusing on “the strategic direction of the Group”.

Stephenson, will also remain as a director on the board.

In 2004, KW’s board decided to merge the roles of chairman and CEO as it was felt that this was the optimum structure to serve the best interest of the group at the time.

“After recent review, the board of directors on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee decided to separate these roles,” said a release issued yesterday by the company. “This decision is in keeping with the Group’s commitment to adopt corporate governance best practices.”

“It is also a response to the changing business environment in which the Group now operates and to allow the CEO more time to focus on the strategic direction of the Group and dedicate his full-time and attention to growing the businesses,” added the release.

Jones has served as a director of the Kingston Wharves Group for the last eight months and fills a number of official roles at an array of organisations.

He is an attorney-at-law and the senior partner of Myers, Fletcher & Gordon. He has served as a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council in Jamaica, chairman of the Tribunal for Breaches under the Rules of Horse Racing, vice president and as President of the Jamaican Bar Association. Currently, he is the chairman of the Cable and Wireless Jamaica Pension Fund, the Red Stripe Pension Fund and the Jamaica College Trust. He is a director of Caribbean Cement Company, as well as MF&G Trust & Finance Ltd, a financial institution regulated by the Bank of Jamaica. In addition, he is a trustee of the Urban Development Corporation Pension Fund. Jones is the honorary consul for Sweden in Jamaica and also the honorary legal advisor to the British High Commission in Jamaica.