Glen Christian among 8 conferred with Order of Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Glenford Christian, CEO and chairman of Cari-Med Limited and Kirk Distributors Limited, is one of eight people appointed as members of the Order of Jamaica.?He was awarded for “invaluable contribution to the pharmaceutical industry”.
Christian rose from a childhood of poverty in rural Clarendon, to begin his career as a teacher in Kingston.
He went into the distribution of pharmaceutical products at HD Hopwood as a sales representative and was later promoted to sales manager – where he honed his passion for the industry.
Christian soon branched out into entrepreneurship along with his wife Marva, operating the Portmore Pharmacy from 1979 to 1987.
In 1986, he established Cari-Med Ltd, with just three employees. Today, it is the leading distributor of pharmaceutical products in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, with a staff complement of more 413 people.
The National Honours and Awards recognise Jamaicans or foreign nationals who, by their service, have made a meaningful and significant contribution to national development.
Also conferred with the Order of Jamaica are: Ambassador Derick Heaven, for distinguished service in the public sector and sterling leadership provided in the sugar industry; Dr Vincent HoSang, for philanthropic and dedicated service to Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora in New York; Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, for outstanding contribution to academia; and Reverend Dr Burchell Taylor, for distinguished service in the field of religion, locally and internationally.
Those who received honorary appointments to the Order of Jamaica are: Denis O’brien, for his sterling contribution to the telecommunications industry in Jamaica; Reverend Father Louis Grenier, for distinguished service to religion, education and voluntary service for more than 60 years; and Professor Graham Serjeant, for sterling contribution to sickle cell research in Jamaica and worldwide.
Governor-general Sir Patrick Allen, acting in accordance with the regulations made under the National Honours and Awards Act, and on the advice of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, made the appointments to the orders and societies of honours with effect from Independence Day, Thursday, August 6, 2015.
