Key appointments announced for Prem

Christopher Williams, an independent appointee to the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) board of directors and CEO and co-founder of PROVEN Management Limited, was appointed the new chairman of the PFJL yesterday.

The newly incorporated organisation, which replaced the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) at the end of the last Premier League season, has spent the last six months fine-tuning the constitution and policies of the body as well as its membership and the various roles within the organisation.

HAPPY TO BE LEADING

However, in a meeting yesterday, the group finalised those procedures and appointed Williams chairman of the board, and the PROVEN boss was happy to be leading the charge of the new entity.

“I am happy to be asked to serve. A successful Jamaica Premier League will both drive economic opportunity for a vulnerable grouping and provide a platform for improving our national team,” said Williams.

The other two independent appointees to the board are Lloyd Distant, a businessman and president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and Nadani Chung, vice-president of finance at Sagicor.

After the PLCA was dissolved in May, many football supporters demanded the inclusion of more professionals in the running of the new organisation, and Donovan White, who served as interim president, has no doubt that the addition of the business leaders will serve the efforts of the group well.

“We believe that our new independent directors, as well as other leaders in the private sector, have a critical role to play in achieving this,” White said.

Meanwhile, in a release yesterday, it was pointed out that the PFJL is a duly constituted company under the Company Laws of Jamaica and that it was formed by the 12 Premier League clubs.

Negotiations for a new memorandum of understanding with the Jamaica Football Federation started in July and concluded with the rights for marketing and commercial activities being handed over to the Jamaica Premier League in September.

“The PFJL is presently active in the marketplace finalising commercial arrangements for the league, including television production, broadcast rights distribution, league and club sponsorship, and special-venue agreements for the delivery of the 2020-21 Jamaica Premier League season,” White said.

The PFJL will be solely responsible for the implementation of the new strategic business plan for the league, plus organising and managing the league and its affairs.