Claudine Reid MBE appointed Charter President and award-winning financial services leader Mahari Hay named Charter Vice President (UK), bringing together decades of business, enterprise and leadership experience to advance economic opportunity between the two nations.
The British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce (BritJACC) has announced the appointments of Claudine Reid MBE as Charter President and Mahari Hay as Charter Vice President (UK), establishing its inaugural executive leadership at a critical moment for Jamaica’s recovery and longer-term economic resilience.
As Jamaica continues to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, the Chamber is setting out a clear proposition: rebuilding must go beyond immediate relief to include the restoration and growth of businesses, access to markets, investment, entrepreneurship and sustainable employment.
BritJACC aims to serve as a practical commercial bridge between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, connecting businesses, investors and entrepreneurs with the relationships, market knowledge and opportunities needed to trade and grow across both economies. The appointments provide a leadership foundation for that ambition.
RECOVERY THROUGH TRADE, INVESTMENT AND ENTERPRISE
The Chamber’s proposed contribution to recovery focuses on helping Jamaican micro, small and medium-sized enterprises reconnect with customers, identify British buyers and suppliers, improve export readiness, develop commercial partnerships and attract investment. For British businesses, it seeks to open pathways to Jamaican markets, new partnerships, supply-chain relationships and opportunities across the wider Caribbean.
Its approach is designed to turn relationships into commercial activity, commercial activity into business growth, and business growth into jobs and livelihoods. BritJACC will seek to complement, rather than duplicate, the work of existing trade, investment and recovery institutions.
Established in 2026 and formally launched in Montego Bay during the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, BritJACC is an independent, member-led bilateral Chamber intended to support enterprises of different sizes, including diaspora-led businesses and first-time cross-border traders.
LEADERSHIP WITH COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY REACH
Claudine Reid MBE brings more than three decades of experience in social enterprise, leadership development, strategic community transformation and government advisory work. A multi-award-winning consultant and practitioner, she has advised policymakers and senior leaders on inclusive enterprise and has co-led an organisation whose work has employed more than 10,000 people.
Mahari Hay is an award-winning financial services leader with more than 21 years’ experience across banking, digital product, commercial strategy and transformation, he is also Founder and CEO of the Community, Corporate and Culture Group, which connects businesses, leaders and communities through recognition and opportunity. Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, he brings both commercial and diaspora perspectives to the Chamber.
Claudine Reid MBE, Charter President of the British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Britain and Jamaica share an extraordinary relationship built over generations. BritJACC gives us an opportunity to build on that foundation and create something equally powerful economically — connecting businesses, opening doors and creating the conditions for enterprise to thrive across both markets.”
Mahari Hay, Charter Vice President (UK) of the British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Our culture already has enormous influence. The opportunity before us is to translate more of that influence into enterprise, investment, ownership and economic opportunity. I want BritJACC to become a genuine door-opener — connecting entrepreneurs and businesses with the relationships, knowledge, networks and opportunities that can help them grow.”
WHY REID AND HAY
Dr Nathaniel Peat (DHumLitt.), Co-Founder of BritJACC, said:
“From the outset, we knew the leadership of BritJACC needed to reflect the scale of our ambition. In Claudine Reid and Mahari Hay, we have two exceptional but complementary leaders. Claudine brings decades of experience across enterprise, government, leadership and social impact, while Mahari brings extensive financial services, commercial, digital and community leadership experience alongside an extraordinary ability to connect people and create opportunity.”
Khori Hyde, Co-Founder of BritJACC, added:
“This Chamber exists to turn connections into opportunity and ambition into action. Claudine and Mahari understand how to bring together people from different worlds; government, business, corporate institutions, entrepreneurs and communities around a shared purpose. That ability will be fundamental as we build BritJACC into an important bridge between the British and Jamaican business communities.”
BUILDING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
The Chamber’s formation responds to a practical challenge facing businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Many British entrepreneurs and members of the Jamaican diaspora have the ambition to invest, trade or establish commercial relationships in Jamaica but may lack the networks, market knowledge, guidance or structured routes required to move forward. Similarly, Jamaican businesses seeking to enter or expand within the UK can face challenges navigating a new market.
BritJACC intends to help close that gap. The Chamber provides practical support across legal and commercial guidance, start-up and scale-up development, funding and finance guidance, financial literacy, mentorship and consultancy, networking and introductions, market-entry support, export readiness and investor engagement.
Alicia Herbert OBE, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, said:
“Strong business relationships are at the heart of the UK-Jamaica partnership, and BritJACC has an important role to play in creating new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration. The appointment of this inaugural leadership team represents an exciting milestone for the Chamber and reflects the ambition behind its creation. I am confident that BritJACC will become a valuable bridge connecting businesses, investors and entrepreneurs across both markets.”
His Excellency Alexander Williams, Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK said:
“The British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce is developed with a clear and purposeful mandate to strengthen economic and commercial ties between Jamaica and the United Kingdom. It consists of a strong and credible founding vision, aligned with advancement of bilateral trade, investment, and a clear strategic positioning, addressing the growing need for structured engagement between UK and Jamaican businesses.”
FROM SHARED HERITAGE TO SHARED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Britain and Jamaica share deep historic, cultural, Commonwealth and commercial ties, supported by a large and established Jamaican diaspora in the United Kingdom.
BritJACC’s ambition is to build on those foundations by creating an increasingly connected transatlantic business community where ideas, capital, expertise and opportunity can move more effectively between both markets.
The Chamber is inviting entrepreneurs, established businesses, professionals, investors, institutions and organisations with an interest in strengthening commercial relationships between Britain and Jamaica to become part of its growing network.
For further information about BritJACC, membership and partnership opportunities, visit: www.britjacc.com
