WIP Energy has appointed Ian Levy and Gillian Harris to its Board of Directors.

In a release making the announcement, the company said Levy joins the board with a record built over six decades in Jamaican commerce, spanning trade negotiation, hospitality, gaming, renewable energy, and housing development, while Harris, a seasoned global finance executive, brings a career spanning over three decades in global finance, encompassing treasury management, investment strategy, financial planning, risk, and enterprise transformation.

Patrick Hylton, Chairman of WIP Energy, said the appointments reflect the calibre of expertise the company is building at board level as it advances its regional growth strategy.

“Ian brings decades of enterprise-building experience and an exemplary background of public service. His track record, ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and understanding of how to grow an enterprise are practical strengths that will serve WIP Energy well as we execute our strategic plans to expand our footprint across Jamaica and the Caribbean,” Hylton said.

“Gillian’s commitment to robust governance and strategic oversight is underscored by her experience building global service centers and leading complex financial transformations across international markets. These are appointments that reflect where this company is going,” he continued.

Levy founded IAN K (Agencies) Limited in 1978, a company that has represented 31 French firms, including Renault Trucks and Schlumberger, and has negotiated, financed, and implemented major contracts ranging from special purpose vehicles to industrial elements and equipment. In recognition of IAN K’s role in expanding French-Caribbean trade, the French government awarded him the Ordre National du Merite in 2005, an honour rarely conferred on a non-French citizen.

Levy co-founded Supreme Ventures Limited in 2001, building it into the largest lottery and gaming company in Jamaica and a regional operator with reach into South America and Africa. He also brings experience in renewable energy through his partnership in Innovative Renewable Energy and Electronics Limited, and in finance through Nation Growth Micro Finance Limited.

His board experience includes past service with the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), the Road Maintenance Fund, the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, and Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO). He was conferred the Order of Jamaica, the country’s third-highest national honour, in 2021, following previous awards of the Order of Distinction in the ranks of Officer and Commander.

Levy welcomed the opportunity.

“WIP Energy is at a pivotal point in its development, and I am pleased to support a company with such clear ambition for the Caribbean energy sector,” he said. “I look forward to working with the board and management team as they pursue the company’s growth plans.”

Harris currently serves as a board member for Roche Holdings Inc, one of the world’s largest biotech companies, and as the chairperson of the Roche Defined Benefits Pension Plan Governance Committee.

Her leadership track record at Roche and Genentech (a Roche company) is extensive, having held senior roles such as Head of Commercial, Medical, and Government Financial Planning and Analysis, Assistant Treasurer, and Head of North America Financial Shared Services.

A pioneer in operational excellence, she spearheaded the adoption of artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making speed and quality. Her expertise in risk management was instrumental in steering organizations through the volatility of the COVID-19 pandemic and outperforming benchmarks during the 2008 financial crisis, which she navigated while managing a US$10 billion fixed-income portfolio.

A chartered financial analyst (CFA) with an MBA from The Wharton School, Harris is also a Prosci ADKAR Change Management practitioner and a Six Sigma Green Belt.

Harris said she looks forward to contributing to the company’s next phase of growth.

“WIP Energy has built a strong foundation and has a clear plan for what comes next,” she said. “I welcome the opportunity to contribute to that work, and to bring the financial and governance discipline that will support its execution.”

Charles Chambers, Executive Director of WIP Energy and CEO of West Indies Petroleum (WIP), parent company of WIP Energy, said the appointment of Harris adds a depth of financial expertise the board will draw on directly as the company grows.

“Her command of global financial strategy, risk management, and governance is exactly what WIP Energy needs at this stage of our development,” Chambers said.

WIP Energy is the fuel distribution arm of the West Indies Petroleum Group. The company serves approximately 80 percent of the independent fuel market in Jamaica. WIP Energy is also the parent company of WIP Terminal Limited, which operates the group’s fuel storage facilities, with a capacity of 750,000 barrels, at Port Esquivel in St. Catherine. WIP Terminal is listed on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and serves shipping and manufacturing clients across the region as well as fuel retail customers in Jamaica through WIP Energy.

The company also has several strategic partnerships and agreements in place, through WIP Terminal, with global petroleum industry leaders such as Sunoco LP, Atlantic Trading and Marketing Inc. (ATMI) and bp Latin America LLC.