THE media and communications sector has been plunged into mourning with the sudden passing of chief executive officer of the RJRGleaner Communications Group Anthony Smith.

He died early Sunday morning after a brief illness, the company confirmed in a statement.

Smith had served as CEO since January 2024, having first joined the RJRGleaner family on October 1, 2022 as deputy chief executive officer for print and digital.

In a brief official announcement, the group expressed profound sorrow, saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Anthony’s immediate and extended family at this time.”

Smith was widely respected within Jamaica’s media and technology circles for his blend of engineering expertise and executive leadership.

A seasoned business and technology executive, he held a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications and an MBA, underpinning a career that spanned more than two decades across the Caribbean.

Before his tenure at RJRGleaner, Smith held senior roles including vice-president at Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited, chief executive officer of Massy Technologies Infocom Jamaica, and regional chief operating officer for Massy Technologies Group.

During his leadership at RJRGleaner the company faced significant industry challenges, including steep declines in traditional advertising revenue and a strategic push towards digital transformation.

In public statements, Smith acknowledged the need for bold adaptation, noting that the group was “exploring several cost-saving measures” as part of efforts to reshape the organisation for a rapidly evolving media landscape.

One of the most significant developments during Smith’s tenure was the development of a joint venture between the RJRGleaner Communications Group and the Jamaica Observer, which would bring together the two media organisations under a shared printing and distribution logistics framework.

Smith’s sudden departure comes at a critical moment for the group as it seeks to adapt to seismic shifts in how audiences consume news and entertainment. His leadership during the past two years was seen as instrumental in setting the course for that transition.