Ryan Foster’s name has been long linked with corporate governance, business re-engineering and financial planning.

A chartered accountant by profession, his name and reputation have gone regional with his recent appointment to the Finance Commission of the Pan American Sport Organisation (PASO), which owns the Pan American Games.

In responding to his appointment, Foster said: “I serve, for that is in my DNA where you’ll find my business and financial genes for the monetisation of sport and efficiency of human capital — both of which are high on my agenda of change and transformation.”

Historic as his appointment as the first chief executive officer of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) was in 2017, instrumental and impactful has been his work as secretary general of the JOA in establishing for Jamaica’s apex sporting body, a corporate face and brand value in local and regional markets.

Foster, once a lecturer in financial accounting and management, has been involved in sport for many years as a sponsor, marketer and administrator.

“I am a sport man through and through and am driven by outstanding business and commercial results, organisational dynamism and transformation, but more importantly by motivated persons who seize today’s inspired dream in creating tomorrow’s reality. I will bring that frame of mind and culture to PASO,” he said.

With an indelible trail of successes at Tastee Limited, where he served as chief executive officer, and at the GraceKennedy Group, where he was the recipient of many awards including the 2009 GK Investments Business Ingenuity, 2007 First Global Financial Service Award, and the 2005 and 2006 GraceKennedy Achievers Award, Foster is bringing award-winning attributes to sport and sport administration.

JOA President Christopher Samuda reacted to Foster’s appointment in this way.

“Secretary General Foster’s credentials in the world of business and finance are well established. In his professional life, he graduated a long time ago from being a business and financial executive and consultant and is now known and has been for years as a Business and Financial Resultant and Transformational Leader. He’ll bring those admirable practical qualities to the table of PASO,” he noted.

Foster will attend his first meeting next month and will be joined by other sport administrators from North, Central and South America in serving the region’s highest sporting body.