Former RGD head Charlton McFarlane appointed Universal Service Fund CEO

Former head of the Registrar General Department (RGD), Charlton McFarlane, is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF).

The appointment is effective Monday, January 6.

His appointment follows the passing of the previous CEO, Dr Daniel Dawes, who died on May 24, 2024, after being found unresponsive in his home.

During the interim, the fund was led by its Financial Controller, Andrew McRae, who stated, “It was a privilege to lead the agency through this transitional period, and I extend my best wishes to McFarlane as he embarks on his tenure.”

The USF board says it is confident that McFarlane's vision and expertise will continue the progress set by Dawes and lead the agency into its next phase of growth and innovation.

McFarlane brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership and innovation from his previous role at the RGD.

His appointment is a key step in the USF's mission to deepen Jamaica's digital transformation and provide access to affordable technology services for all Jamaicans.

Reacting to his appointment, McFarlane expressed his excitement about taking on this critical role.

"I'm really looking forward to joining the USF team. I'm particularly excited about finding innovative ways of deepening Jamaica's digital transformation through the fund," McFarlane said.

He continued, "Be ready for cutting-edge, highly creative, forward-thinking solutions to build a digital futuristic society."

The USF says McFarlane's leadership is expected to bring fresh insights and strategies to drive the Fund's ongoing initiatives and further strengthen its commitment to enhancing Jamaica's digital infrastructure.

It says his appointment comes at a pivotal time, with numerous projects aimed at increasing digital connectivity across the island, including Connect Ja Public Wi-Fi and Community Wi-Fi launches, as well as other transformative initiatives in the pipeline.

The agency says it looks forward to McFarlane's leadership and continued success in fulfilling its mandate to improve access to communication services and contribute to the economic development of Jamaica through digital inclusion.

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