Photo: Chris Williams is the Chairman of the newly incorporated Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL)
The newly incorporated Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), which replaced the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) at the conclusion of the last season of the Premier League, has a new mandate and a new vision for the advancement of the Jamaica Premier League as Jamaica’s first fully professional sport.
The PFJL will be managed by a capable team of professionals to lead the development and enable the execution of new commercialisation strategies, branding, marketing and international business development to support two of the three critical pillars for growth of professional football in Jamaica: Commercialisation and Talent Development.
The third of the three critical pillars for growth of professional football in Jamaica is Governance. The new team will be governed by a board of directors to include for the first time, independent directors from which a Chairman is appointed.
In regards to the rolling out our new Governance mandate, the PFJL is announcing the appointment of its first three independent appointees to the board of directors – Mr. Christopher Williams – CEO/Co-Founder, PROVEN, Mr. Lloyd Distant – Businessman & President, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and Ms. Nadani Chung – Vice President, Finance at Sagicor.
“These outstanding business leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board, and as we build a pathway to a vision of league sustainability by 2023, we believe that our new independent directors, as well as other leaders in the private sector, have a critical role to plan in achieving this.” Remarked Donovan White – Director and interim Chairman of PFJL and President, Waterhouse Football Club.
In the most recent meeting of the Board, Mr. Williams was appointed Chairman. Regarding his appointment, Christopher Williams had this to say “I am happy to be asked to serve. A successful Jamaica Premier League will both drive economic opportunity for a vulnerable grouping and provide a platform for improving our national team.”
The PFJL is a duly constituted company under the Company Laws of Jamaica formed by the twelve (12) premier league clubs. In July, the PFJL and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) began negotiation on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the PFJL to be granted the marketing and commercial rights to the Jamaica Premier League. These negotiations were concluded in early September 2020 and signed by both parties.
“The PFJL is presently active in the marketplace finalising commercial arrangements for the league including: television production, broadcast rights distribution, league and club sponsorship and special venue agreements for the delivery of the 2020/21 Jamaica Premier League season.” Concluded White.
ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL JAMAICA LIMITED (PFJL) In order to achieve the transformation of professional football in Jamaica, the Clubs have established the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFLJ) to replace the previous body that managed the league. The body will be initially headed by a General Manager and a full team that will be enhanced to address the areas of commercialisation – the development and execution of the new commercialisation strategy, branding, marketing and international business development to support two of the main pillars: commercialisation and talent development.
The new team will be governed by a board to include, for the first time, independent directors from which an independent Chair will be selected. The PFJL is responsible for the implementation of the new Strategic Business Plan for the League in the context of the wider strategy to professionalise football in Jamaica. It is dedicated to the creation of a sustainable league by 2023.
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