ScotiaBank Jamaica has promoted the head of its life-insurance subsidiary, Jacqueline Sharp, to the job as the group's chief financial officer (CFO).

The appointment was announced by the financial services group on Friday and came several months after the resignation of the former CFO, Stacie Ann-Wright, a fallout from the contentious retirement late last year of CEO Bill Clarke.

Clarke and his former employers remain in an acrimonious court battle over his retirement settlement, after he was forced out because of, according to the bank's claim, unbecoming personal conduct. Clarke insists that the allegations against him are spurious.

bad public relations

Clarke's successor, Bruce Bowen, is not only having to battle bad public relations from the legal fight, but is having to configure a management team which analysts say, is in full accord with his strategic vision for the group. Most of the current top managers would have been appointed by Clarke during his 13 years at the helm.

Sharp would be among the most senior and high profile of Bowen's appointees to date.

"Mrs Sharp is well prepared for this role, having worked in the positions of treasury manager and senior analyst for the bank," Bowen said in a statement announcing her appointment. "And with the expanded skills and competency gained from leading Scotia Insurance, she brings to the job a wealth of knowledge and credibility."

A well-known and visible figure on the financial-sector circuit, Sharp is also a vice-president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and president of the Insurance Association of Jamaica.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of the West Indies.

Sharp joined Scotiabank in 1997 and has been general manager of Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance since 2003.

"Under her leadership, Scotia Insurance has grown significantly in premium income and over the last nine months, has contributed 33 per cent in revenue to the Scotiabank Group," the bank said.

Bowen ... Building his own team.