Prime Minister Andrew Holness has appointed four new ambassadors/special investment envoys who, he says, will play a pivotal role in attracting investment to Jamaica and drive economic growth.

The four are businessman Adam Stewart for tourism; Theresa Roberts for culture and arts; as well as Lloyd Carney and Dushyant Savadia for technology.

“This strategic move underlines the Government’s commitment to catalysing innovation, investment and economic growth to create sustainable opportunities for the people of Jamaica,” the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said in a news release on Thursday.

“These individuals have extensive experience and expertise in various sectors and will bring a wealth of knowledge and a network of international contacts to their new roles. Their primary objective is to identify potential investment opportunities and attract investment by promoting Jamaica as an attractive destination for both local and international investors,” OPM said.

Expressing confidence in the capabilities of the newly appointed envoys, Holness said, “Jamaica is fortunate to have such highly capable individuals who are internationally renowned in their fields and possess a deep understanding of the investment landscape, both locally and internationally. Their collective expertise and networks will be invaluable in catalysing innovation, driving investment and stimulating our economy.”

He emphasised the Government’s unwavering commitment to creating an enabling environment for investment and working hand-in-hand with the private sector to drive innovation and unlock the country’s full economic potential.

He also noted that two of the envoys are technology-focused and, as such, will help to accelerate Jamaica’s transition to a digital society that is well-positioned to take advantage of global opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Stewart is the executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International and Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) Group, which includes the Jamaica Observer.

He leads a hospitality organisation that is the region’s largest private employer with more than 18,000 team members spread across 24 resorts and 12 islands. Beyond Sandals, Stewart directs his family’s extensive media, automotive and appliance business holdings, and is the force behind international brands AC Hotels by Marriott and Starbucks entering the Jamaican and Caribbean markets.

Roberts is a Jamaican-born businesswoman and philanthropist who has made the United Kingdom her home. Her support for Jamaican artists has become her main passion, but she continues to be involved in various United Kingdom arts projects including DRIFT (which involves the installation of visual arts along the River Thames); the New Hall Cambridge art collection, the largest collection of women’s art in Europe; and the establishment of the International Slavery Museum, which forms part of the National Museums, Liverpool.

Her private collection, The Theresa Roberts Art Collection, offers an important insight into the development of Jamaican art since the country gained Independence in 1962.

Carney founded the USA-based Carney Technology Acquisition Corp II (CTAC II), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) which successfully raised US$400 million to focus on technology acquisitions. CTAC II had raised US$200 million and resulted in the acquisition of Grid Dynamics, a Nasdaq listed company, which was in the top one per cent of performing SPAC stocks. Grid Dynamics has recently established an engineering centre in Kingston.

Previously, he was CEO of Brocade Communications, a data centre and networking solutions firm, and a member of the Brocade board of directors. Before joining Brocade, Carney was CEO and member of the board of directors at Xsigo Systems, a technology leader in the data centre virtualisation market with solutions for cloud computing and software-defined networking.

In August 2022, Carney was appointed chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Savadia is a globally renowned entrepreneur, humanitarian, public speaker, and technology disruptor who is motivated by his commitment to give back to society.

He started Amber Group in Jamaica in 2015 from a modest 200 square feet office space in New Kingston with a philanthropic vision. Under his leadership, the group has grown into a powerful global technology conglomerate which now operates 11 distinct business lines in 30 countries.

Amber Connect, one of the group’s first companies, is one of the world’s most powerful AI-powered vehicle tracking, security, and fleet management solutions. The group’s software development arm, Amber Innovations, employs more than 600 multi-stack developers and produces cutting-edge software solutions for some of the world’s most recognised companies.

Savadia’s philanthropic work includes conducting stress management workshops in prisons, inner cities, and among at-risk youth. He has also conducted several social intervention programmes to reduce crime and violence in Jamaica. His efforts have led to the creation of the Amber Heart Academy, sponsored by the Amber Group, which engages unattached youth across Jamaica in skills training in technologies like data analytics, cybersecurity, mobile application development, and web application development.