Tony Hart leaves business to focus on philanthropy
BUSINESSMAN ANTONY ‘Tony’ Hart has given up his board seat at Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ), ending a nine-year run.
The business legend retires today, November 30, having served as a director of the family-controlled distribution and meat processing company from April 2007.
Commenting on the development, CPJ Chairman Mark Hart said his father has been signalling his intention to step down from the board for some time but has been delaying the move.
“We’ve been trying to get him to stay on, and it just came to a point where he said it’s time,” Hart said.
He feels the move is part of his father’s transition from business mogul to full-time philanthropist.
“He was just always available to offer his advice and support over the years. He still is, but I think he just want to take a step back from the daily grind of the corporate world and deepen his involvement in philanthropic pursuits. I know he has structured his shareholdings and ownership to match that process of disengagement,” Hart said.
TIRELESS WORKER
Tony Hart will continue as chairman of St Mary’s Preparatory School and has already started to work with the Board of Hosanna Prep in Montego Bay. Principal of St.Mary’s, Anthony Taylor, lauds Hart as a tireless worker and the consummate philanthropist.
“He has been at St Mary’s Prep before I came eight years ago, and I am sure he is going nowhere soon. He is one of those Jamaicans that knows no boundaries. His support has been tremendous and as soon there is a new project he is there ready to help in any way,” Taylor said.
Mark cited his father’s resourcefulness, innovativeness and visionary thinking as the reasons he will be missed at CPJ.
“For my own part, he has been a great adviser and supportive in various endeavours. When the hard questions came up, he’s always been the person I could turn to as a tremendous resource. He wasn’t involved day to day but you can bet that when there was a new initiative he would be there just as exited as everyone else and he came in as one with innovative thinking and a visionary approach,” Mark said.