Gleaner gets new MD

After four years as deputy managing director, Christopher Barnes moves into the top job at The Gleaner Company come February 1.

Oliver Clarke, The Gleaner Company's managing director, yesterday announced that he was stepping down on January 31 to be replaced by Barnes.

But Clarke, who has served as the company's managing director for 34 years, remains as chairman of the board of directors.

"I will still be around and will be doing duties that Chris (Barnes) and I have agreed on," said Clarke as he thanked the staff for their support and friendship over the years.

Clarke expressed confidence in Barnes, who was integral to the improved financial performance of The Gleaner last year.

Barnes, a graduate of Boston University in the United States and McGill University in Canada, joined The Gleaner in 2007 after leaving Alcan in New Jersey.

Quiet confidence

The Campion College graduate quickly established himself as part of The Gleaner's management team, leading the changes necessary to tighten the company's operating practices.

Against that background, Barnes is approaching his new post with quiet confidence.

"I'm not daunted," Barnes said as he prepared to take over the leadership of the oldest newspaper in the Caribbean.

"I know it is a serious challenge, but I'm pretty confident in my ability to overcome challenges," he added.

Barnes noted that while there would be no major changes at The Gleaner immediately after he assumes office, programmes aimed at improving the operations and achieving growth would continue.

"The Gleaner is not going to change overnight with my appointment. We have been evolving over the years, and we will continue to evolve to respond to the needs of advertisers and readers," he said.

Growth an objective

With a commitment to continuing The Gleaner's high standard of delivering value to its shareholders and customers, Barnes is clear on where the company needs to go.

"The objective has to be growth. You can't cost cut your way to growth, so what we have to do is look at new and innovative ways of keeping the public informed but always looking to doing it in a commercially sound way.

"In other words, we need to be able to make money to continue to support the overheads that we use to collate and disseminate the news," Barnes said.

He noted that The Gleaner already has an excellent online product and that development would continue.

"It is an evolving technology and the world is still unclear of how you are going to make money, but we have seen some advertising growth due to the take-up of Internet in Jamaica and we are encouraged by it."

Barnes said he has enjoyed solid support from the Gleaner staff, management team and board of directors during his time as deputy managing director and he expects that to continue when he is promoted.

Established in 1834 by the deCordova brothers (Joshua and Jacob), The Gleaner is a staple of Jamaican life and Barnes is committed to continuing and building on its reputation for excellence.