GraceKennedy, Lasco Financial Services and Mayberry take top honors at JSE Best Practices Awards

The Jamaica Stock Exchange’s 21st Best Practices Awards lit up The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on December 3, 2025, celebrating outstanding performance and leadership across the country’s capital markets.

The high-energy ceremony drew hundreds of executives from Main and Junior Market companies, as well as leading brokerage houses, for a night the JSE described as “electrifying and pulsating.”

GraceKennedy, Lasco Financial Services, and Mayberry Investments emerged as the evening’s top achievers. GraceKennedy Limited secured the prestigious Governor-General’s Award for Excellence, making it the overall winner in the Main Market category, while Lasco Financial Services Limited captured the same honor for the Junior Market.

Lasco Financial Services awarded winner of the Governor General Awards for the Junior Market.

Among member dealers, Mayberry Investments Limited received the Chairman’s Award as the top-performing stockbroker for the 2024 assessment period. In total, 43 awards were presented, including second- and third-place recognitions.

Mayberry Investments awarded winner of the Chairman’s Award, distinguishing the Company as the top performing stockbroker for the period 2024.

One of the event’s most emotional moments came when the audience rose in a voluntary tribute to the late Don Wehby, former Group CEO of GraceKennedy and former Government Senator. Wehby was posthumously awarded the inaugural “CEO of the Year,” created to honor an executive who demonstrates a deep commitment to best practices throughout their organization.

The CEO of the Year Award, awarded to the deceased Dr. Wehby, was received by his daughter.

Top performers across categories

GraceKennedy (GK) dominated several Main Market categories, earning awards for Best Annual Report, Corporate Disclosure and Investor Relations, and Corporate Governance, while placing second for Best Website. Lasco Financial Services Limited (LASF) also excelled, winning Best Annual Report and Best Website in the Junior Market, and placing second in Corporate Disclosure and Investor Relations.

Mayberry Investments Limited led among brokerages, taking first place for Expansion of Investors and Listed Companies, second for Revenue Generation and Market Activity, and third for Investor Relations within stockbrokerage.

Leaders commend Jamaica’s financial sector

Delivering greetings on behalf of Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, Custos Rotulorum for Kingston, The Honourable Steadman Fuller praised the night’s honourees.

“This year’s nominees, including contenders for the JSE Best Practices Governor-General’s Award for Excellence, represent the highest standards of corporate discipline and innovation,” he said. “This ceremony, while celebrating your accolades, is a testament to your efforts in shaping the future of Jamaica’s financial landscape.”

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JSE Group CEO Livingstone Morrison used his remarks to thank former Managing Director Dr. Marlene Street Forrest and former Best Practices Awards Committee Chairman Professor Neville Ying for more than two decades of leadership.

“The Best Practices Awards are perfectly aligned to the purpose of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Group, which is to operate efficient and viable markets that support the capital mobilisation and growth and wealth management objectives of stakeholders,” Morrison said. He also commended the nation for rallying after Hurricane Melissa and reiterated the JSE’s support for recovery efforts.

JSE Chairman Steven Whittingham echoed that sentiment, noting the difficult circumstances facing many communities.

“This year as we gather, instead of the usual festive atmosphere, there is a sense of somberness,” he said. “Real resilience means building back, not the same as before October 28th but adopting best practices… which are less vulnerable, better able to withstand the host of Category 5 events which are inevitable in individual and corporate lives.”

The evening also featured a stirring performance from gospel artiste Kevin Downswell, whose music added a reflective close to the ceremony.