Gassan Azan (left), the new chairman of Jamaica Trade and Invest board, in discussion with Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry and Commerce, at the Private Sector Development Programme announcement of business clusters approved for assistance, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, on Wednesday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Businessman Gassan Azan has been named chairman of the investment agency Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), formerly Jampro, among a new board of directors named by Industry and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda.

Azan, the owner of popular retail chains MegaMart and Bashco, leads a board of 15.

He replaces former investment banker and now PNP Member of Parliament Peter Bunting.

Notable additions to the board include Rodney Davis, who, in August made a swift departure from Cable and Wireless Jamaica and Patrick Lynch whose appointment as Jamaica Tourist Board chairman sparked a quarrel between Government and the opposition on claims of potential conflict of interest.

Lynch works for hotelier Gordon 'Butch' Stewart who came swiftly to his executive's defence.

The other directors are Raymond Miles, as vice-chairman, auctioneer William Tavares-Finson, David Lyn, call centre operator Patrick Casserly, ICWI's Paul Lalor, Cleve Stewart, JTI head Robert Gregory KFC operator Mark Myers, PSOJ Executive Director, Sandra Glasgow, Paymaster's Audrey Marks, developer Phillip Gore and port operator Grantley Stephenson.

None from among the former eight-member board was included.The old board included Carolyn Cooper, Raymond (Ray) Goulbourne, David Hall, Dr. Rosalea Hamilton

Dr. André Gordon, Rev. Dr. Don Chambers, Lori-Ann Lyn and Dennis Morrison.

business@gleanerjm.com