KINGSTON, Jamaica — Medical Disposables & Supplies Limited (MDS) has announced the appointment of Duke Holness to its board of directors, effective February 4, 2026.

Holness is a distinguished executive leader with more than 30 years of experience driving commercial success and operational excellence across the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Peru and Ecuador.

He previously served in several senior leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, including as vice president and general manager with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility. In that role, he oversaw multi-market operations across 27 countries, leading a team of 400 employees.

As a former managing director at Exeltis Pharmaceuticals, Holness led a team of more than 200 members across seven markets in Central America and the Caribbean. Under his leadership, the organisation achieved the number one position in growth throughout the pharmaceutical industry in the region.

Throughout his career, Holness has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, market development and team building, consistently delivering double-digit growth in revenue and profit. Known for his ability to bridge operational depth with strategic vision, he has transformed organisations, built high-performing teams and established strong relationships with global pharmaceutical and consumer goods principals.

His deep knowledge of Caribbean and regional markets, combined with his proven track record in P&L management and organisational transformation, is expected to position him to provide valuable strategic guidance to MDS.

Holness currently serves as a board-certified coach specialising in executive and leadership development. He also holds board memberships with AMG Packaging Company Limited and the National Health Fund.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies. He is also Board Audit Committee certified through the Caribbean Governance Training Institute.

“Now joining the MDS board, he brings a unique lens to strategic direction by combining his deep understanding of pharmaceutical and consumer distribution, regional market dynamics and proven P&L management with a passion for building scalable and profitable operations. MDS is confident that his impact at the board level will translate into the future growth and development of the company,” said Chief Executive Officer of MDS, Kurt Boothe, in a release on Wednesday.

The board of directors, management and staff of MDS welcomed the appointment.