Dear Editor,

Sir Howard Cooke was the second president of the Jamaican Institute of Management, having succeeded Sir Florizel Glasspole in August 1991. He continued in this role until he retired as governor general and passed the baton over to his successor Sir Kenneth Hall.

The existence of the successor organisation, the Jamaica Institute of Management (2009) Limited, is as a result of an initiative spearheaded by Sir Howard. And, as we celebrate his life and philanthropy, we must applaud his contribution to the continuance of the JIM legacy.

Sir Howard was committed to education for all Jamaicans and recognised the importance of preserving an institution that had provided the required management training and exposure to many of the captains of industry, business and commerce in Jamaica when there were few other local options available to them.

Decisive action by Sir Howard, to intervene and call for a review of the status of the organisation, resulted in the decision to dissolve the council and appoint an interim committee, which was indeed a bold and visionary step. This action arrested the financial haemorrhage and eventually restored the Manager of the Year programme in partnership with The Gleaner Company Limited and a successful management conference was hosted. The former chairman of JIM, Dr Alfred Sangster, recalls that “his initiative was responsible for keeping JIM as a going concern”.

Today, we must show our appreciation to this father of the new Jamaica, whose pioneering approach to education, leadership and philanthropy made it possible for organisations such as the new JIM to succeed.

JIM is now guided by a formal board of directors and is a membership organisation focused on improving the cadre of professional managers through the promotion of best practices in management as an essential discipline for economic development. JIM recently celebrated the 21st Manager of the Year award, which remains the primary vehicle through which exemplary management practice is recognised and rewarded.

On behalf of the council and membership of JIM let me express our sincere condolence to the Cooke family, and in particular Lady Cooke.

Sandra Shirley, FJIM

Chairman

Jamaica Institute of Management (2009) Limited