Berger Jamaica gets interim boss:
MUSTAFA TURRA has now stepped down officially as general manager of Berger Paints Jamaica Limited and a director of the board has been named to act in the position in the interim.
Andy Mahadeo, one of three ANSA McAL-appointed directors that took their seats on Berger’s board at the end of July, will run Berger Jamaica until a replacement is recruited for Turra.
Turra’s resignation took effect Tuesday, August 15. He was appointed by the former owner of Berger’s parent, Asian Paints of India, and ran Berger for four years.
Asian Paints sold out its regional Berger operations in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados to ANSA McAL in July for an undisclosed price.
Mahadeo is a mechanical engineer who has been with the ANSA McAL group since 1994. By 1996, he joined the senior management ranks as managing director of ANSA McAL Chemicals Limited. Mahadeo currently holds the post of sector head for manufacturing at ANSA McAL, a Trinidadian conglomerate with diverse holdings across the region.
Berger Jamaica is now its second local subsidiary, the other being ANSA Coatings Jamaica, which distributes the Penta line of paints.
Well-placed sources say Mahadeo has been shadowing Turra at Berger since July, in readiness to take the reins. Turra reportedly stayed for the twoweek period to facilitate a smooth handover. Mahadeo told the Financial
Gleaner the company would take its time to recruit the right manager for Berger Jamaica.
“We feel the Berger brand is an extremely strong one. We see a lot of potential and a lot of synergies with our existing paint companies in terms of increasing market share and enriching customer experience and moving our businesses forward,” he said.