Jamaica has lost more than a businessman. It has lost one of its most composed architects of progress.
Don Wehby, former GraceKennedy chief and a man who rarely sought the spotlight, passed away this weekend—leaving behind a track record that shaped the trajectory of an entire economy. He was not one for dramatics, but his absence will be loud.
While many remember him for the heights he reached—steering one of the Caribbean’s most respected companies—those who worked closest with him speak less of his résumé and more of his rhythm: calm, calculating, never rushed, yet always ahead. Whether restructuring GraceKennedy’s global strategy or reviewing high school sponsorship budgets, he showed up with the same rigor.
Executives recall board meetings where Wehby asked more questions than anyone else in the room. Not out of doubt—but out of discipline. “He taught us that leadership was responsibility, not reward,” one senior director noted.
But it wasn’t just GraceKennedy that bore his imprint. In public service, Wehby brought his private-sector acumen to bear on national finance. He entered the Senate not for showmanship, but stewardship—unafraid to challenge bloated assumptions or push for leaner frameworks.
Athletes, educators, and entrepreneurs alike found a quiet champion in him. Youth development programs received consistent funding not because they were flashy, but because they mattered. Behind every successful GraceKennedy ISSA Championships or scholarship fund was Wehby’s belief that the next generation deserved more than speeches.
Condolences have been widespread—from financial circles to cultural leaders, from CEOs to Olympians. But perhaps the truest tribute lies not in what’s being said now, but what was quietly built then.
Don Wehby never asked to be called a visionary. But make no mistake—he saw the long game. And he played it flawlessly.
