Jamaica Football Federation to announce new marketing director

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will appoint a new director of marketing, six months after Sophia Harris resigned from the post to pursue other ambitions.

According to JFF General Secretary Dalton Wint, the federation has already selected the person who will take up the job on June 1, and they will make the announcement soon.

“The replacement will start the first of next month (June). I will not give the person’s name, but a person has been chosen and soon we will make it public,” Wint said.

Harris, who was director of marketing and business development for almost three years, said she felt she was able to achieve quite a lot in a very difficult environment. However, her greatest challenge was trying to change the existing culture and structure in the JFF with the aim of moving the organisation in a direction that would be more in keeping with global standards.

Meanwhile, a release from the federation said the planning, execution and impact of the Verzuz online clash between dancehall giants Beenie Man and Bounty Killer on Saturday was a source of inspiration, and that they intend to form a synergy between football and the music world to give pride, joy and entertainment to the fans when the Boyz turn out for their World Cup Qualifiers.

LONGSTANDING UNDERSTANDING

“The name Reggae Boyz and Reggae Girlz reveal the JFF ‘s long-standing understanding as to how football, along with entertainment, can go a far way in blazing a trail for Jamaica internationally,” the release read.

“At this time, the JFF wishes to make it clear to Jamaica that it is also positioning itself to bring joy and pride to Jamaicans worldwide when the Reggae Boyz take to the field for the World Cup Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The JFF looks forward to strengthening the natural synergy between entertainment and football in a renewed and powerful effort to strengthen Brand Jamaica post the global pandemic,” it read.

However, Wint said they will leave it to the new marketing committee to plan the way forward.

“When we install our new marketing person, he will lead that, so we leave that discussion to the marketing committee. We don’t want to pre-empt the marketing committee. The new marketing committee will drive the marketing and PR arm of the JFF. We are allowing them to create their own policy, so they will know what to do in due time. They have met and they have their meetings planned. We haven’t flushed out everything, but that (music/football synergy) is something that we are looking at, so when that is ready for disclosure, we will let you know,” Wint said.