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Management Team

Managing Director

Hugh Reid, FCA, FCCA, MSc, BSc

Mr. Hugh Reid joined the JN Life Insurance Company in December 2020, and is currently the Company’s General Manager.

Mr. Hugh Reid joined the JN Life Insurance Company in December 2020, and is currently the Company’s General Manager. Mr. Reid is an experienced financial services executive and entrepreneur, with a track record of success in general management, customer service, sales management, investments, life insurance, mortgage finance, financial accounting and financial management in the financial services, construction and real estate industries. He joined The Jamaica National Group as a Consultant in November 2018 and successfully completed and participated in several projects in the areas of financial analysis, project financing, project appraisal, as well as policy and strategy development. He was appointed Executive in the JN Group Accounting and Financial Reporting Unit in October 2019. In 2016, Mr Reid established Customer Needs LLC, in Georgia, Atlanta, a startup company with a focus on real estate investing and financial education. Prior to that, he served in a number of senior management roles as President of Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company; Chief Operating Officer at the Victoria Mutual Building Society; Senior General Manager at the National Housing Trust; and has also worked in the life insurance and internal audit sectors. He completed the MSc, Accounting and the BSc, Economics, both at The University of the West Indies. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (UK), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and the Life Management Institute (US) and completed the International Housing Finance Certificate at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. Mr Reid is Chairman of the Board of Perishables Limited; Director of the Kingston College Development Trust Fund and the Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica; and Vice Chair, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Jamaica Chapter. He is Past President, Insurance Association of Jamaica (2012-2014); Fellow of the Jamaican Institute of Management (2006); and has had a long association with the Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew – Distinguished Club Secretary, Kiwanian of the Year, Past Distinguished President 2000-2001 and Kiwanis Hixson Fellow * Lt. Governor’s Award, Division 23 EC&C District, Kiwanis International, for outstanding service as Divisional Treasurer.
Chief Financial Officer

Keisha Bent, CFO,CA, FCCA

Keisha Bent was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the JN Life Insurance Company, effective January 2022.

Keisha Bent was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the JN life Insurance Company, effective January 2022. In this role, she has responsibility for all aspects of the accounting and finance functions and provides key support for the company’s financial planning and strategy.

She brings to the position a wealth of experience, having served in similar capacities across The Jamaica National Group in previous years. Mrs. Bent joined the JN family in 2001 as a Senior Accountant in the Finance Department of the former Jamaica National Building Society. She was transferred to The Creative Unit in 2006 and was later promoted to Manager, with responsibility for the Finance and Administrative functions. In 2013, she was appointed Finance Manager at JN Small Business Loans and was later promoted to Senior Manager, Finance, IT & Administration, during which time she strategically supported the substantial growth of the portfolio and the successful implementation of a new operating system.

An astute and strategic leader, with more than 20 years of progressive experience in accounting and finance, Mrs. Bent has demonstrated competencies in auditing, accounting and management reporting, financial management, strategic thinking and decision making, process improvement, leadership and team management. She is passionate about team work and team development. She exemplifies the D.A.R.T values, and strongly believes in and aligns with the One JN vision. In 2019 she was recognized for her outstanding leadership and was the recipient of the General Manager’s Leader Extraordinaire Award.

Mrs. Bent is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, UK) and a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ). She also holds several certifications, to include Leadership, Strategic Planning and Strategic Risk Management. She gives back through her Alumnae Association and is a Director on the Executive team.

Chief - Operations and Data Protection

Sandrina Watkins, JP, MBA, MSc, BSc

Sandrina Watkins is a dedicated professional with a proven track record in product design, business development and relationship management.

Sandrina Watkins is a dedicated professional with a proven track record in product design, business development and relationship management.

Miss Watkins joined the JN Life team in July 2013 as an Executive Assistant. Later that year, she was promoted to Product Development & Operations Manager. In 2021, she was again promoted to senior manager, Customer Experience, Operations and Product Development, with responsibility for the growth and expansion of JN Life products and services, including the JN Individual Retirement Scheme.

Prior to joining JN Life, she was employed to the Jamaica National Building Society in the Business Development and Mortgage departments.

She holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Wales, an MSc in Project Management from the Business College of Barcelona in Spain and a BSc. in Economics (major) and Statistics (major) from The University of the West Indies. In addition, she holds certifications in life insurance and customer service from the Life Office Management Association, in the United States of America, and the Insurance College of Jamaica.

Miss Watkins is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Insurance Association of Jamaica, Jamaica Occupational Health & Safety Professionals Association and the Customer Service Association of Jamaica.

Chief – Sales & Marketing

Othneil Blagrove, BSc, LUTCF, FSS, FSCP

Othneil Blagrove is a results-oriented Financial & Insurance Sales Manager, with a wealth of experience and expertise in life insurance sales and financial services.

Othneil Blagrove is a results-oriented Financial & Insurance Sales Manager, with a wealth of experience and expertise in life insurance sales and financial services.

He joined the JN Life team in 2020. His previous experience included working at the SAGICOR Arm of Chancellor Insurance Agency as a Unit Manager in Life Insurance Sales. He also worked for the NCB Financial Group and has 10 years of retail banking, along with 15 years of sales and project management experience.

He completed his Bachelors of Science (BSc) at The University of the West Indies and attained financial designations as LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow), FSS (Financial Services Specialist), FSCP (Financial Services Certified Professional) at The American College of Financial Services, Pennsylvania. Mr Blagrove is also certified in Ordinary Long Term Insurance and Equity Linked Insurance from the College of Insurance & Professional Studies, Kingston.

He holds the distinction of being a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) with eight years of membership in The Premier Worldwide Association of Financial and Insurance Professionals while obtaining numerous awards including; Advisor of The Year, Top Sales Person in product sales, Top Sales person in investment income, Staff of the Quarter and Advisor of the Quarter.

Chief New Business and Underwriting

Susan Holness, JP, FLMI, FALU

Miss Holness is an Underwriter by profession and was trained at Life of Jamaica (now Sagicor).

Miss Holness is an Underwriter by profession and was trained at Life of Jamaica (now Sagicor), under the guidance of Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest Reinsurance companies.

She joined JN Life in May 2013 as the Chief Underwriter, bringing to the role years of skill and experience in the insurance profession, as well as a strong background in New Business development and Underwriting. She now holds the position of Senior Manager, New Business and Underwriting.

She completed a Diploma in Business Administration at CAST, now University of Technology. She holds various insurance designations including FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) and FALU (Fellow, Academy Life Underwriting), both US based designations.

She has made history in the profession, by being the first resident Jamaican to achieve the FALU designation. This achievement will improve JN Life’s ability to undertake expert risk assessment by balancing risk exposure with business growth objectives, while maintain profitability.

Miss Holness is a Justice of the Peace, member of the Insurance association of Jamaica, and a member of the Bull Savannah School Restoration Committee.