Dr. Jules Ferdinand leaves ECGC

The Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) will soon advertise for a new Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Dr Jules Ferdinand.{{more}}

Dr Ferdinand, who had been with the company for 24 years, and at its helm for 10 years, called it a day effective November 10th.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, shortly after chairing the second day of the Caribbean International Leadership Summit in Barbados, Dr Ferdinand said that it was time for him to move on.

He said that after hopefully getting a short rest, he plans to pursue his true passion, teaching.

“I have more and more requests to do consultations. That was using up all of my vacation time. That limits me. It was time for me to go into it full-time,” Dr Ferdinand said.

“I enjoy lecturing to students doing advanced degrees in business and thoroughly enjoy that kind of work,” he said.

Dr Ferdinand, who is also a director of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill School of Business, said he is tentatively booked until March 2008.

Dr Ferdinand was quick to dispel suggestions that his resignation had anything to do with the dismissal of Human Resources Manager Junior Bacchus a few months go.

“That did not trigger it at all… that had its own stress associated with it, but had nothing to do with my resignation,” he said.

Dr Ferdinand said that he enjoyed his tenure at ECGC.

“I started as Technical Services Manager providing technical services to farmers, and later bakers, then rose to the point where I could leave as CEO…. I have grown a lot. I need to write a new chapter, spread my wings, and fly.”

“I would be most frustrated if I get to retirement age and didn’t have the chance to do something I really want to do,” said Dr Ferdinand, who turns 54 on November 22nd. He said he gave ECGC two months notice.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Sutherland, a member of the company’s Board of Directors, will act as the company’s CEO until one is chosen.

She told SEARCHLIGHT that the board is due to meet next week, after which the position should be advertised.

Ferdinand was promoted to the top spot in the organization after his former boss and the company’s first General Manager Ken Boyea was fired under controversial circumstances in 1997.