Sagicor Group’s Christopher Zacca to receive 2024 AFJ Award
For his decades of development in local business and impact on nation-building in the public and private sectors, president and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica, Christopher Zacca, is being awarded the 2024 American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) I nternational Achievement Award.
acca, whose professional career has positively impacted the health, education, and economic growth of Jamaicans for over 30 years, will receive the award on May 4, at the Jamaica Charity Gala in Miami, Florida.
“I’m truly honoured to be selected as an awardee of the AFJ’s International Achievement Award,” Zacca commented ahead of the gala. He continued,“This recognition not only reflects my personal journey, but the collective efforts of those who have worked alongside me in advancing our progressive vision for Jamaica’s future.”
A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
Graduating with a BSc i n engineering from MIT and an MBA from the University of Florida, Zacca has held significant positions over the years including vice president of Engineering at Desnoes & Geddes Limited (Red Stripe), managing director at Caribrake Products Limited and CEO of Air Jamaica Limited.
He also served as president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and chairman of the Development Bank of Jamaica and the National Health Fund. His advisory role to the prime minister from 2009 to 2011 and leadership in the Private Sector Vaccine Initiative underline his impact on Jamaica’s development.
In 2014, Zacca’s contributions were recognised with the bestowment of the Order of Distinction, Commander (CD) rank, for his invaluable contribution to Jamaica’s private and public sectors.
PEOPLE FIRST
Appointed president and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited in May 2017, Zacca has demonstrated astute leadership of the financial services conglomerate, which also has operations in The Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, and Panama. Amidst the company’s many financial highs, Zacca has steadily maintained a balance between profits and people and in December 2023 he assumed chairmanship of the Sagicor Foundation Jamaica.
Zacca shared, “Since taking the helm of Sagicor, my focus has been on ensuring that our success translates into real benefits for our clients. While, as a company, we’re working towards the long-term enhancement of our nation’s economic growth, we are also doing everything to ensure that this translates into real-time benefits through the improvement of opportunities for our people. For me, any capacity that I’m privileged enough to serve in, boils down to the support and execution of initiatives that uplift the lives of the persons that my team and I come into contact with. I want us to always build our clients ’lives and our country, in every way we can”.
Along with Zacca, president and chief executive officer of VM Group Limited and VM Financial Group Limited, Courtney Campbell has been selected as a recipient of the award. “It is also tremendous to be sharing this moment with my colleague, Courtney, who is as committed to the development of the financial industry and Jamaica as I am.” Zacca said
The AFJ is a philanthropic nonprofit that supports charitable organisations and social initiatives in Jamaica. For over 40 years, it has rendered assistance towards improving the lives of Jamaicans in the areas of education, health care, and economic development. Through its awards, the AFJ honours individuals and organisations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in service to Jamaica in the fields of economic development, philanthropy, and US-Jamaica bilateral relations.