Two local financial stalwarts, Christopher Zacca and Courtney Campbell, are set to be honoured with the prestigious 2024 American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) International Achievement Award at a gala event in Florida, US, scheduled for May 4.
Zacca, currently serving as President and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica, is being acknowledged for his decades-long commitment to fostering local business development and his significant contributions to nation-building across both public and private sectors.
Meanwhile, Campbell, who holds the position of President and CEO of VM Group, is being recognized for his remarkable career achievements and unwavering dedication to improving lives. His advocacy for financial inclusion, chairmanship of The VM Foundation, and service to various organizations such as the Governor-General Jamaica Trust, the Council of World Missions, and the National Education Trust highlight his impactful endeavours.
Expressing his gratitude, Campbell remarked, “I am deeply honoured and humbled by this recognition from the AFJ. I consider this a team award and I’m eternally grateful to my colleagues, friends and family who have played an immeasurable role in my life and career so far. Most of all, I am thankful for God’s unfailing faithfulness, and I pray for His continued grace and guidance.”
Similarly, Zacca shared his sentiments, stating,“I’m truly honoured to be selected as an awardee of the AFJ’s International Achievement Award. This recognition not only reflects my personal journey but the collective efforts of those who have worked alongside me in advancing our progressive vision for Jamaica’s future.”
Zacca, an alumnus of MIT with a BSc in Engineering and an MBA from the University of Florida, boasts a diverse professional background, having held significant positions at esteemed organizations such as Desnoes & Geddes Limited (Red Stripe) and Air Jamaica Limited. His leadership roles, including presidency at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and chairmanship of the Development Bank of Jamaica, underscore his profound impact on Jamaica’s development.
Appointed as President and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited in May 2017, Zacca has exhibited astute leadership, steering the financial services conglomerate to success across multiple territories including The Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Reflecting on the forthcoming accolade, Zacca expressed, “It is also tremendous to be sharing this moment with my colleague, Courtney, who is as committed to the development of the financial industry and Jamaica as I am.”
Campbell, who assumed leadership at VM Group in 2016, spearheaded the restructuring of the Victoria Mutual Building Society and its subsidiaries, culminating in the establishment of The VM Group Limited in January 2023. As a Mutual company owned by its members, VM Group is the holding company of The VM Financial Group Limited and VM Innovations Limited.
The AFJ International Achievement Award has previously been bestowed upon esteemed individuals including Dave Barger, President of JetBlue Airways; Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel; and notable personalities like Chris Blackwell, Thalia Lyn, Usain Bolt, Cedella Marley, former United States President Ronald Reagan, and Harry Belafonte, among others.
