The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro) has recruited Gabriel Heron as the organisation’s new vice-president of marketing to support the agency’s recent restructuring exercise that aims to strengthen Jampro’s marketing strategy, and increase Jamaica’s competitiveness in the global foreign direct investment (FDI) sphere.

The new Jampro executive will lead the marketing division at Jampro which includes the agency’s regional offices in Montego Bay, London, Toronto and New York and the agency’s Contact Management Centre, New Market Development and Integrated Marketing Communications departments. He will also be at the helm of Jampro’s renewed digital marketing strategy.

Heron is a strategic marketing and business development executive with more than 12 years of experience leading key local and international strategic marketing initiatives. With experience at iconic Jamaican companies such as J Wray & Nephew (Appleton) and JN Money Services, his career highlights include the development and launching of global 360-degree marketing campaigns targeting Jamaica and the Caribbean diaspora.

Heron holds a BSc in Pure & Applied Chemistry from the University of the West Indies; and an MBA with focus in Marketing and Finance from the University of Brunel, London, UK. He has also been certified as a digital marketing professional by the Digital Marketing Institute in the UK.

Heron said he was pleased to join the Jampro team, and he is looking forward to supporting the agency’s mission for Jamaica. He expressed his passion for Jamaica and brand Jamaica and he is happy to be a part of Jampro’s marketing vision for 2019 and beyond.

“Jamaica is going through a transformative period, and building awareness across the globe about the investment opportunities locally is critical,” Heron said. “I am very enthusiastic to play my role in national development by applying my knowledge and experience in marketing.”

Diane Edwards, Jampro’s president, said that the new recruitment was part of the agency’s bid to increase Jamaica’s ability to attract new investments and boost the country’s economic performance. Reflecting on Jampro reaching the 30th anniversary milestone last year, Edwards said the executive team and board of Directors aimed to take the Agency in a new direction that will improve Jampro’s contribution to Jamaica’s economic development.

“While Jamaica attracts significant projects from local and international investors, we recognise that the global FDI space and export markets are growing more competitive as countries seek to develop their economies,” she stated. “To enhance our ability to promote the opportunities of doing business in Jamaica, it is critical to consistently renew our strategy in line with global trends towards raising awareness of Jamaica as a thriving investment destination.”

Heron will be focused on improving the local and global profile of Jampro, increasing awareness of Jamaica as a nation brand through the generation of traditional and digital global marketing strategies, and he will also be the driver for the creation of a new Jampro website that will provide a seamless and interactive user experience.