Joseph M Matalon, chairman of the ICD Group, was inducted to the Private Sector Organisaton of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Hall of Fame at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday night.
Matalon, widely known as ‘Little Joe’ is the 26th business leader to get the PSOJ’s highest honour, following Sagicor Group Chairman Richard Byles last year.
Matalon is chairman of ICD Group Holdings Limited (ICD Group), a diverse group of companies within the Caribbean, North America, and Latin America. He also serves as a director of other ICD subsidiaries including British Caribbean Insurance Company Ltd, West Indies Home Contractors, CGM Gallagher Group, Advantage Communications Inc, and Amber Connect Ltd.
Matalon, a former PSOJ president, is also a director of the boards of the publicly listed companies RJR Gleaner Communications Group and 1834 Investments Limited (formerly the Gleaner Company Ltd).
In January 2016 he was appointed the chairman of the Office of Utilities Regulation.
Hailing from a familial lineage intertwined in the fabric of Jamaica’s history, Matalon has carved his own niche in the island’s story. For three decades he has made an invaluable contribution to Jamaica’s public and private sector through his expertise in finance, investment and banking. He has significant experience in creating and building businesses, and has led and participated in several government policy development initiatives, said the PSOJ in an earlier news release.
Joseph is not the first Matalon to be inducted to the Hall of Fame, as his father Mayer Matalon was the third awardee in 1994.
The Hall of Fame was “designed to honour business leaders who have made significant contributions to the development of the private sector and our country, and pays tribute to three important traits — successful entrepreneurship, leadership and character,” according to the PSOJ website.
“Nominees should have served in Jamaica’s private sector for at least 25 years and” should also have an in-depth knowledge of and commitment to his or her field, and be of sound character and unquestionable integrity. High ethical standards should be the trademark of his or her business deals and practices. In addition, the nominees’ companies must be successful with above-average growth.”
Lorna Myers, the chairman of Restaurants of Jamaica, was the first and so far only woman to make the Hall of Fame when she was inducted in 2012.
