Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
Tara Playfair-Scott - - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Marketing and product development expert Tara Playfair-Scott has left the fast-paced world behind to become commercial director in Jamaica for Airone Ventures Limited, an Irish low-cost airline that is all set to operate in the Caribbean.
Under the chairmanship of Ian Burns, Airone is run by a group of Irish entrepreneurs, including Digicel's vice-chairman, Leslie Buckley. It joins the group of Low-Cost Carriers (LCC) operating worldwide.
The airline had originally made overtures to Jamaican authorities but according to reports in The Gleaner earlier this year, with the unfinished business surrounding the future divestment of the national airline, the application to operate in Jamaica was turned down. The principals of Airone Ventures Limited then decided to try their luck in Barbados.
Inaugural flight
"In spite of the change of government in that country, the application process went through very quickly. They were receptive, they gave us a list of dos and don'ts and we are working towards our inaugural flight later this year," Playfair-Scott said.
When the airline takes flight eventually, Airone will be able to pick up passengers in other countries, leave them here, pick up passengers here and move on. "We have plans to open up routes all over the Caribbean and Latin America, especially to serve people who want to travel but do not have a US visa," Playfair-Scott says.
Playfair-Scott joined the Airone team when she was being courted by telecoms giant Digicel and had a chance encounter with the new airline's executives here. "I was ready for a change and a new challenge," said Playfair-Scott who had also worked with Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Discovery networks in the United States of America. She is a marketing and product development professional whose peers in the corporate world readily associate with Cable and Wireless Jamaica where she spent over four years in the marketing, product development and communications divisions.
But in spite of her new employers' move to Barbados, Playfair-Scott still sees a future for LCCs in Jamaica. "Although I am based here, I will, in the meanwhile, travel between Jamaica and Barbados periodically and hold the fort here and hope that the authorities see the value of a low-cost carrier offering direct flights to the other islands." Her responsibilities include: managing sales, preparing reports for senior management and the board, market research and analysis, mapping/forecasting, development of a call centre and all aspects of communication.
The lighter side
Tara Playfair-Scott loves plants and animals and plans to open a pet day-care facility later this year. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
But outside of business, just who is Tara Playfair-Scott? First of all, her double barrel name is not the result of marriage, she is the only daughter of a mother who wanted to pass on the family name to her.
As a child, Playfair-Scott wanted to be a vet but her father would have none of it and insisted she pursue another career path. However, her love for animals remains and she owns two dogs, Scout and Shasha. Playfair-Scott disclosed that she still has plans to enter the world of animal care.
"I have already identified a location to operate a state-of-the-art pet day-care centre and shopping mart. My centre will provide space for cats and dogs to move about, rather than be caged for the duration of their stay. But details will be secret for now, except that it will be centrally located and will open later this year."
Playfair-Scott also loves things equestrian and learnt to ride at a stable in Virginia several years ago. Nowadays, she rides when she gets a chance at Chukka Blue in the western end of the island. "I love to ride and I have done some show jumping and dressage lessons," she told Flair. Her other interests include board games like Scrabble.
The future
In 10 or 20 years, Playfair-Scott sees herself having a healthy and happy family and whether married or single, she plans to adopt a child.
On food choices: "I love bread and butter and also stew peas, but I also love all fresh Jamaican fruits and vegetables."
With dual citizenship such a hot topic, are there any migration plans in the works? No, this is one Jamaican who plans to live on the rock.
Education: She holds an undergraduate degree in political science from Florida International University and an MSc in communications from the same institution. She is a member of the National Association of Minorities in Communication.
On being an only child: Playfair-Scott says she is aware of the stereotypes but for her, the advantage was not having to compete with anyone for attention, love or time. On the downside, there was some loneliness but she had cousins who were so protective, they felt more like siblings. "I like my own company and I can be alone and not lonely. People assume that you are spoilt when you are an only child, but that was not the case for me. I grew up in a disciplined environment," she said.
Tara Playfair-Scott is an avid horse woman. She learnt the skill in Virginia, The United States of America. Contributed
