Board of Directors

ROY N. HUTCHINSON, O.D., J.P., Chairman

Mr. Roy Hutchinson, a Business Executive, has owned and operated Hutchinson’s Motors Ltd., a successful motor company since 1965. He is also the Proprietor of Hutchinson’s Texaco Service Stations and Starmart in Savanna-La-Mar and Negril, and the Managing Director of Southwest Development Company Limited. This past student of Munro College is a Justice of the Peace, and in 1993 was the worthy recipient of the Prime Minister of Jamaica’s Medal of Appreciation. He was also awarded the Order of Distinction (O.D.) by the Government of Jamaica in 1999.

Mr. Hutchinson is The Charter President of The Savanna-La Mar Rotary Club, serving as President between 1969 and 1971. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Munro College between 1976-1991, and Chairman of the Negril-Green Island Planning Authority 1972-1980. He is currently a Director of the Board of the Urban Development Corporation, a member of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers’ Association, member of the Anglican Church Committee and Rector’s Warden. His interests include reading, listening to music and exercising.

PAUL PENNICOOK, B. Sc. (Hotel Administration), Deputy Chairman

Mr. Paul Pennicook is a Graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

An experienced Hotelier, Mr. Pennicook started his career at the Montego Beach Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica. While at Cornell and immediately after, he worked at the Sheraton Hotel and Statler Inn both in Ithaca, New York before returning to his native home in Jamaica.

Subsequently, he held management positions at the Holiday Inn, Montego Bay before going on to work as General Manager at Couples, Ocho Rios, then as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Superclubs.

In 1995, Mr. Pennicook joined Unique Vacations (The Marketing arm of the Sandals Resorts chain) as Executive Vice President. In August of 1997, he was appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Couples Resorts, which owns and operates the Couples Group of Hotels.

Mr. Pennicook has served as First Vice President of The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and was Chairman of that organisation’s Marketing Committee. He was also named Hotelier of the Year in 2001 by the JHTA.

Mr. Pennicook held the position of Director of Tourism for Jamaica during the period March 1, 2003 to May 2006. He joined Air Jamaica as Senior Vice President on June 1, 2006. Mr. Pennicook is a Wine Connoisseur who has visited Vineyards in California (USA), Australia and Europe studying blends peculiar to these regions. He is also a sports enthusiast who enjoys watching Tennis, Football and Cricket. He plays Squash and enjoys a variety of music and fine dining.

RICHARD K. POWELL, M.B.A., M. Sc., B. Sc. (Hons.), President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Richard Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer, joined The Victoria Mutual Building Society in July 2005. He is the first leader of the Society to have been appointed from outside of the organisation.

Mr. Powell is a highly qualified and respected executive, whose professional background includes appointments as President and CEO of Life of Jamaica Limited and Blue Cross of Jamaica, as well as a senior management position at the Lascelles deMercado Group of Companies. He also had a successful engineering career in the public sector and has a reputation for executing his responsibilities with unquestioned integrity, dedication and professionalism.

During his  tenure at VMBS, Mr. Powell has initiated a drive to transform The Society and its subsidiaries into an integrated financial services provider. This initiative has included the formulation of a new Group vision and mission to chart the way forward. The new strategic approach is geared, not only towards improving financial and operational efficiency, but also repositioning the Group as a dynamic and customer driven organisation. The ultimate goal is to transform VMBS into a more adaptable, nimble and diversified financial institution that can operate successfully in a liberalized and globalised environment.

Mr. Powell’s academic achievements include an M.B.A (with Distinction) from York University in Canada, a M. Sc. in Highway Engineering from The University of Birmingham in England, and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies. In 1984, he was the recipient of a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship, which was tenable at York University.

MAURICE ROBINSON, B.A. LL.B

  Mr. Robinson is a Consultant at Myers, Fletcher & Gordon, a Law Firm in which he had been a Partner for 20 years. He became a member of the legal fraternity in 1959, having worked as a Salesman in the Pharmaceutical Industry and as a Civil Servant in the Education Department. On joining the legal profession he became an Associate and was later made Partner at Manton & Hart. This firm was merged into Myers, Fletcher & Gordon in 1977 and Mr. Robinson stayed on as Partner up to 1997. 

 

 

 

RICHARD M. POWELL, B.A. (Hons.)

 Mr. Richard M. Powell was appointed to the Society’s Board of Directors in February 2006. Mr. Powell, the youngest member of the Board, has an impressive background in business acquisitions, investments and economics. As a Managing Partner of AP Capital Partners, a Florida-based private equity firm, he is familiar with the challenges and opportunities facing middle-market companies like VMBS. Prior to forming APCP, Mr. Powell was an Associate in the Emerging Markets Group at Bear Stearns where he worked with many clients in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Mr. Powell has received numerous awards in recognition of his excellence in academics, sports, and entrepreneurship. He has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Business, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He has also been featured in various business publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Inc. magazine. Mr. Powell graduated with a BA in Economics from Harvard University, as a Robert Winthrop Scholar. He also holds a leadership certificate from Harvard Business School. He is currently also on the Boards of ZeroChaos Inc, the Association for Corporate Growth (Orlando Chapter), the Campion College Alumni Association (Florida Chapter), and the 1420 Foundation for Sustainable Development.

NOEL daCOSTA, MASc, M.B.A., B. Sc., ACII

 Mr. Noel daCosta was appointed to the Board of Directors in January 2006. He currently holds the position of Corporate Relations Director for Central America and the Caribbean at DIAGEO. Before this appointment, he held senior management positions at Desnoes & Geddes Ltd., including Brewmaster and Technical Director.

This Commonwealth Scholar of Jamaica and Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers in the UK and the Jamaica Institute of Engineers, has done extensive studies locally and overseas in Engineering and Management. He holds a MASc and B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Toronto in Canada. He also acquired certifications in International Business, in Brewing and Malting Science, and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK).

Mr. daCosta has served and continues to serve on many other boards, including Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Desnoes and Geddes Ltd, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, JAMPRO, United Way of Jamaica and the Caribbean Breweries Association. He enjoys jogging, golf, music, and serves as a Wine Judge for the American Wine Society.

JEANNE P. ROBINSON- FOSTER, B.A. (Hons.), LL.B (Hons.), C.L.E.

 Mrs. Jeanne P. Robinson-Foster studied at the University of the West Indies where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree, followed by a Bachelors of Law and the Certificate of Legal Education. A true Montegonian, she attended primary and high schools in the area and returned there to work after acquiring her professional qualification. This Attorney-at-law has over 20 years experience and is a founding Partner of Watt, King & Robinson. Even though a legal practitioner at this time, Mrs. Robinson-Foster has earned distinction in the airline industry and the teaching profession, having worked at Eastern Airlines and taught at Mount Alvernia High and the University of Technology. In fact, she has received the All-Island Courtesy Award in the Airline Industry and was the All-Island Boss of the Year in 1986.

Mrs. Robinson-Foster is also presently a Director on the Boards of the Sam Sharpe Teachers College, the UWI School of Continuing Studies, and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce. She is a Past President of the Soroptimist Club of Jamaica and represents the Building Societies Association on the Governor General's Achievement Awards Cornwall County Committee. She has held the post of Director at the Montego Co-Operative Credit Union, Montego Bay High School, Barracks Road Primary, the Cornwall Regional Hospital and is also Trustee of the Good Shepherd Foundation and the Western Schools Trust. She is actively involved in many other organizations, as well as the Calvary Baptist Church.

GEORGE DOUGALL, M.B.A., B. Sc.

 Mr. Dougall is an Electrical Engineer, who is currently the proprietor and Managing Director of Parquet Specialists Ltd., a woodwork manufacturing organization. His previous engagements included the Managing Directorship of Jamaican Floral Exports and Wherry Wharf Ltd.

Mr. Dougall, an esteemed entrepreneur, with a Masters in Business Administration, brings to the Main Board of Victoria Mutual, sound experience as an originator of business solutions and astute financial management.

He is married with four children and has a keen interest in squash and bridge. 

MICHAEL A. McMORRIS, B.A.

Mr. McMorris is the Principal of the business management firm KRONOS Limited. KRONOS specializes in new venture development and private equity, and includes among its areas of expertise international strategic management, investment project facilitation and global marketing and promotion. Mr. McMorris has held Senior Management positions at Jamaica Promotions Corporation Limited, Trafalgar Commercial Bank Limited, Knutsford Capital Merchant Bank Limited and Dehring, Bunting and Golding. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Political and Public Affairs from the University of Miami. Mr. McMorris is also a member of the Board of Victoria Mutual Wealth Management (VMWM) Limited.

 

FERNANDO DEPERALTO, F.C.A., M. Sc., B. Sc.

Mr. DePeralto has had a rewarding career in the field of finance. He has gained a wealth of experience through his work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he provided technical assistance to Central Banks in Africa and Asia for nine years. In this position, he participated in missions to Tajikistan, Uganda, Swaziland, West Bank and Gaza, Tanzania and Afghanistan, and was also assigned to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. Additionally, Mr. DePeralto held the position of Director of Finance in the Bank of Zambia for six years and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica for eight years.

Mr. DePeralto holds an M. Sc. in Accounting and a B. Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica. He has been a member on the board of several other companies, including the Bank of Jamaica, EX-IM Bank and Petrojam and has held the position of Chairman for the Jamaica Stock Exchange. He currently works as a Financial Consultant.

REAR ADMIRAL PETER BRADY, CD., CVO., MMM., J.P.

 

Rear Admiral Brady has 34 years of military experience, having served at the highest capacity as Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force. He was awarded a post-graduate degree in Maritime Management from Dalhousie University, Canada, and has received several accolades including the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Commander of the Order of Distinction, and the Legion of Merit (Commander, USA).

Rear Admiral Brady has served as guest lecturer in Maritime Safety Administration and Maritime Security at the World Maritime University (WMU), Dalhousie University, Canada, and was recently appointed to the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University. In 2006, Admiral Brady was appointed Chairman of the National Hydrographic Committee and Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco. He currently holds the position of Director General at the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) and is Chairman of the UN specialized agency’s International Maritime Organization’s body for global ‘Standards of Training and Certification’ for merchant marine officers, including masters and chief engineers.

 

Judith Robinson, Ph.D., F.C.C.A., F.C.A

Dr. Judith Robinson is a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant, who has extensive experience in the areas of organizational development, financial planning and control, strategic planning and performance monitoring and evaluation.

She holds a Ph.D in Public Administration from New York University, a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica.

A former partner in the management consulting practice of Price Waterhouse Jamaica, Dr. Robinson has held senior management and accounting positions in the Jamaica Telephone Company Ltd., National Water Commission and NCR (Jamaica) Ltd. In 2005, she completed a two-year assignment as Coordinator of the Public Sector Rationalization Programme in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Dr. Robinson serves as a Director of the Caribbean Cement Company Ltd. and is a member of the Public Sector Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica.