Matalon appointed chairman of RJRGLEANER Group

The board of directors of Radio Jamaica Limited, the parent company of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, yesterday announced the appointment of Joseph M. Matalon as chairman to replace Oliver F. Clarke, OJ, who has given notice that he will demit office on April 30.

Matalon, who has served as a director of Radio Jamaica since the amalgamation of Radio Jamaica and The Gleaner Company (Media) Limited (GCML) in 2016, has been a director of The Gleaner Company Limited (now trading as 1834 Investments Limited) since 1987. Clarke will continue to serve as a director.

Clarke had been elected chairman of Radio Jamaica Limited on December 11, 2017. He joined The Gleaner Company in May 1976 as managing director and was appointed chairman in 1979.

The RJRGLEANER Communications Group also revealed other changes aimed at accelerating its strategic growth and expansion initiatives.

Chief Executive Officer Gary Allen announced yesterday that chief operating officer of the group, Christopher Barnes, is to focus primarily on the portfolio of strategic projects and initiatives to be vigorously pursued as the group moves to diversify its media and communications business. Barnes will remain managing director of GCML, while Garfield Grandison, former editor-in-chief, who has returned from a leave of absence, will manage the day-to-day activities of the GCML as acting general manager.

The group also announced that it is merging the management of its radio and television services into a single broadcast division. Claire Grant will be general manager of radio and television. Natonia Sylva has been appointed deputy general manager – marketing and sales for the broadcast operations. Roxanne Walters, who served as marketing and sales manager – radio, will continue in the division.

Dr Dennis Howard, who served as general manager - radio for the past two years, will relinquish the role following the completion of wide-ranging restructuring activities in the radio division and will resume his position as a director of Independent Radio Company.

Michael Henlin, who for the past year has been consulting on a number of technology and engineering matters, has been appointed chief technology officer.

“We have spent a lot of time addressing the matters of amalgamation,” said Allen in a press statement. “We must now accelerate our growth and diversification activities, which we are confident that these changes will support.”