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J Wray & Nephew's swanky midtown address

Published:Friday | April 25, 2014 | 12:00 AM
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Ugo Fiorenzo (left), J. Wray & Nephew; Nicola Madden-Greig (centre); and Marjorie Kennedy are spotted at the official opening of the J. Wray & Nephew corporate office, Dominica Drive, New Kingston, on Thursday April 10.
Allison Peart is all ears as she chats with Jean-Jacques Dubau (right), new chairman of J. Wray & Nephew Limited. With them are Clement Lawrence (second left), managing director of J. Wray & Nephew, and Stefano Saccardi, general counsel and business development officer at Gruppo Campari.
New chairman of J. Wray & Nephew Limited, Jean-Jacques Dubau (right), compares notes with Clement Lawrence (left), managing director of J. Wray and Nephew (Jamaica and the Caribbean) and Stefano Saccardi, general counsel and business development officer at Gruppo Campari, of which J. Wray and Nephew is a subsidiary.
Ryan Hanlon of the United States Embassy chats with Sharon Gulick (centre) and Erlene Kowlessar.
Jason Hall (left) deputy director, Jamaica Tourist Board; Ugo Fiorenzo (centre), of J. Wray & Nephew; and Jean-Jacques Dubau (right), chairman, J. Wray & Nephew, in conversation. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
From left: Paul Henriques, Lisa Bell, Marjorie Kennedy and Brian Pengelley enjoy each other's company.
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Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

J. Wray & Nephew Limited has added its own touch to the already swanky business district of New Kingston.

The entity, now a subsidiary of Gruppo Campari, has moved its sales, marketing and corporate teams into a modern, eye-catching, 24,000-square-foot building along Dominica Drive. The design cost more than J$250 million and was executed by 75 designers, artisans and construction crews, all locals.

However, the popular Spanish Town Road location isn't going anywhere; it still houses several critical elements of the operation, including production, accounts, purchasing and distribution. At the recent official opening, Managing Director of J. Wray & Nephew (Jamaica and Caribbean) Clement 'Jimmy' Lawrence said the reasoning was the leadership team needed to be centralised.

"What we've done here is to put together the leadership team under one roof," he said of the Dominica Drive offices. "Essential to our operations is executing our strategy with aplomb. At the core we are a marketing and sales company, so we've made sure that team is here." The new corporate offices will be the company's hub for the Caribbean.

Gruppo Campari

New Chairman of J. Wray & Nephew Jean-Jacques Dubau said Jamaica is a key platform in the region for Gruppo Campari, the world's sixth-largest player in the global beverage sector.

Lawrence said the new system has been working well for both teams and the coordination has been excellent so far. Of the renovation, he said "in earnest, we did it all in about three months".

"I must compliment our team led by Greta Bogues who has really done an awesome job that is manifested here," he said. "I think the comments that we've heard thus far are very strong and complimentary."

Among the features at the 23 Dominica Drive locale, is a 23-foot long bar and a 16-seat academy for brand immersion. Lawrence said the building was also a premium facility to purvey premium brands which are available at the Specialty Shop, located on the ground floor. The offerings are more than just rums.

"There is other paraphernalia associated with our well-recognised branding," he said.

Lawrence said Appleton brand is in the top-100 spirits in the world and among the top-five rum brands.

"So it's just fitting that we do this to communicate those strengths to our consumers," he said.

daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com