A number of persons in the region’s banking sector recently came together to pay tribute to Ronald Harford, who is this year celebrating his 50th anniversary of working in that industry.
The event, which took place at The Hyatt Regency Ballroom, Port-of-Spain Trinidad, included executives from the Bank’s subsidiaries (Guyana, Grenada and Barbados), and close friend Sir Kyffin Simpson of Barbados, who paid a special tribute to Harford for his contribution over the past five decades. In his tribute Managing Director, David Dulal-Whiteway, described Harford as an “icon” and a “true Caribbean man”.
A release from Republic Bank said that Mr. Harford joined the then Barclay’s Bank DCO back in 1963, as a post boy and quickly moved up the ranks. He was named Chairman of Republic Bank Limited in 2003. He is also the Chairman of Republic Bank (Grenada) Ltd and Republic Bank (Barbados) Ltd.
Dulal-Whiteway, made mention of the many important developmental initiatives through which Harford saw the Bank during his tenure. He said that Harford has a passion for customers and for the development of staff.
“There is no one individual who has had such an impact on the Banking history as Ron has,” he said.
Dulal-Whiteway also described Harford as a “great storyteller” and thanked him for being his mentor and for moulding him into the person that he is today. He showed gratitude by presenting Mr. Harford with a gift.
There was also a video presentation dedicated to Harford and it spoke of the fond memories and thoughts, members of the executive management team and his family had of him. A toast was then raised in his honour by the Master of Ceremonies, Anthony Harford.
