Letter of the Day | Mona School of Business is indebted to James Moss-Solomon

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) community mourns the passing of James (Jimmy) Moss-Solomon, former executive in residence at MSBM.

Moss-Solomon was, to us at MSBM, a remarkable friend, supporter, mentor, confidante, to many simply ‘Uncle Jimmy’ and, for the marketing team, he was ‘Captain’.

Up to the time of his passing, Jimmy leveraged his years of executive management experience, social capital and vast personal and business networks to provide tremendous support to faculty, staff and students. Whether it was to identify speakers or solicit sponsorship for events, find internship opportunities for students in the Master in Business Management (MBM) programme or identify suitable projects for the Master in Business Administration (MBA) field projects, Jimmy could be counted on. He was passionate about building meaningful relationships between the university and industry, he was keen on the university and business school being relevant and responsive to the needs and demands of the country/region; to develop research solutions that could positively impact the industry and commerce, and to produce graduates who are ready to take their place in an ever-changing world.

COMMITTED TO YOUTH

Jimmy demonstrated unreserved passion for, and commitment to, young people. He made time for them, scheduling frequent meetings as they prepared for various group projects, introducing them to his network of resources, and ultimately mentoring them. This commitment to students continued in his role as part of the steering committee for the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme, where he helped to nurture and provide validation of their entrepreneurial ideas. Additionally, he was one of the driving forces behind the MSBM Reasoning Series with CEOs, a forum which provided students an opportunity to interact with CEOs in a ‘town hall’ setting and thereby gain useful insights about the experience and vision of the CEO. It was Jimmy’s firm belief that students would benefit from this type of exposure in our quest to produce well-rounded graduates.

Jimmy was a man for all seasons. He read widely and wrote and spoke on a range of issues, be it climate change, electric vehicles, 5G, the business of sugar and, of course, world politics. He could be described as a ‘pracademic’, fusing his vast industry experience with scholarship, always keen to be on the cutting edge of business.

“Unbridled service to country, institution and community defines Jimmy’s legacy. His devotion to see people grow and achieve their dreams is that kindred spirit which sets Jimmy as an example that others should aspire to follow,” said Professor Densil Williams, former executive director of MSBM, remembering him.

Reflecting on a lifetime of knowing Jimmy, Dr David McBean, executive director, MSBM, said; “I first met Jimmy almost 30 years ago, and he always remained the same – a highly accomplished and down-to-earth person who gave freely of his time and resources. Jimmy seemed to be everybody’s friend and mentor, and no problem was too big or small for him to assist with. He loved his country immensely, and we would often speak of how the MSBM could evolve to be of even greater support to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. He was a raconteur, a bold and generous spirit, a nation builder and a free thinker. We thank the GraceKennedy Group for providing us with Jimmy. I shall miss him greatly.”

Jimmy “walked with kings but never lost the common touch”. He always made himself available and was unapologetic in his love for Jamaica and the promise of its future, once we took the opportunity to be honest with each other and move with a purpose borne out of self-respect and respect for others.

Members of the MSBM family celebrate Jimmy’s life and legacy by committing to use our gifts and talents to serve others, to mentor, to care for the vulnerable, and to serve our country.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

MONA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT