GraceKennedy appoints Annette Morrison as Group CHRO after Naomi Holness retires

GraceKennedy Group has announced the appointment of Annette Morrison as their new Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the Executive Committee, with immediate effect.

Annette takes over from Naomi Holness, who retired from the Senior HR Business Partner role on December 31, 2023. Naomi served the Jamiaca-based financial services firm since 2004, spearheading the group and their food division’s strategic growth over the last two decades. She will continue to serve as the consultant for the food division of the group until a Divisional CHRO is appointed.

Assuming her new role, Annette, who was recently working as the Director of Shared Services at the Barbados Light & Power Co., has rejoined GraceKennedy after exiting in 2018. Previously, she served the group in the capacity of Head of Talent and Global Mobility for over six years. In her other roles, she worked with Wisynco Group as the Group Head of People & Internal Communication and the Tax Administration Jamaica as the Board Member. Her core competencies include HR Strategy, leadership, communication, HR tech, employee experience, organisation effectiveness, culture, and change management.

Welcoming her back to her new role, Group CEO Don Wehby said, "I am pleased to welcome Annette back to our GK Family. Her leadership and insights will be invaluable as we navigate the exciting journey towards achieving our 2030 vision of being the number one Caribbean brand in the world."

Extending wishes to the outgoing HR leader, he added, "We are grateful for Naomi’s invaluable contributions to GraceKennedy. Throughout her tenure, she has fostered inclusivity, growth, and excellence, and her ability to meaningfully connect with our team at all levels has enriched our company culture. As we welcome Annette and celebrate Naomi’s legacy, I am confident that GraceKennedy will continue to build a culture of excellence through great people in 2024 and beyond."