KINGSTON, Jamaica — GraceKennedy Group CEO and Government Senator Don Wehby is scheduled to deliver the inaugural James Moss-Solomon Memorial Lecture at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Faculty of Law on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

The lecture is being hosted by Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM).

Making the announcement, MSBM Executive Director, Dr David McBean said, “Jamaica lost a gifted and loyal son of the soil with the death of James ‘Jimmy’ Moss-Solomon earlier this year. He was a business executive, philanthropist and mentor extraordinaire, who was instrumental in building a meaningful relationship between the university and industry. We had the privilege of his amazing intellect and experience as executive in residence at the MSBM where he leveraged his years of executive management experience, social capital and vast personal and business networks to provide tremendous support to faculty, staff and students.

“In honour of his life and legacy, MSBM will launch this lecture series to bring together members of academia and industry to contend with the business and management issues which were so dear to him.”

A respected captain of industry, Moss-Solomon was a former president, for two consecutive terms, of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; vice-president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica; president, Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce and private sector advisor to the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.

Noting that Moss-Solomon’s career encompassed major executive roles at GraceKennedy and Co, including executive chairman of Hi-Lo and Medi-Grace, founding director of the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation and the GraceKennedy Foundation, Dr McBean said “The MSBM is honoured that Senator Wehby has agreed to present the inaugural lecture. He is uniquely placed to do so, based on his close association with Mr Moss-Solomon as well his vast experience in international business and trade.”

The lecture, he said, takes on additional significance as the MSBM this year celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the merger of two formidable forerunners — Mona School of Business and the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.

“As we celebrate a decade of excellence and innovation, MSBM continues to provide outstanding business and management education opportunities of the highest calibre with a cadre of graduates that are making significant contributions in Jamaica and the region,” McBean said.

“Jimmy was a major catalyst for the school’s advocacy role in offering a series of public fora that facilitated discussions on topical business and management issues and also served as guest lecturer for several courses. MSBM is therefore proud to preserve his legacy in this way,” he added.