David Walton - Brand Manager Extraordinaire

Whether he's wearing the hat of Brand Manager for Appleton Jamaica Rum, or loving brother, son and friend, David Walton is an extraordinary man - a jolly good fellow that nobody can deny!

His superb performance in his field of endeavour has moulded him into the confident and high-spirited man that he is today. David has been a Brand Manager at J. Wray and Nephew Ltd. for four years, with complete responsibility for the Appleton Jamaica Rum and Appleton Genesis brands, including brand positioning and strategy, equity management and case sales.

David joined the spirits company in February 2003, as a Brand Assistant for the Appleton Jamaica Rum portfolio. He was later promoted to Brand Manager with responsibility for Wray and Nephew Rum Cream, Red Label Wine, Stone's Ginger Wine, Jamaica Brandy and Old Tom's Gin. A recognised performer whose accomplishments were far beyond expectations, he exceeded the business objectives of the group with breakthrough results.

As part of his promotion efforts, David has organised several high-ranking parties over the years, including Appleton Treasure Island (ATI) and Welcome to Jamrock. His company is also actively involved in the sponsorship of Bacchanal Carnival. His job further entails building brand equity, increasing profits for the portfolio, creating and executing the brand's strategy and consumer/customer engagement through marketing.

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Simon & Neville
Making Waves in Broadcasting
For Simon it might seem like punishment; for Neville it appears to be something close to bad karma, but let's face it - these two are stuck with each other. Or are they?

For close to a decade we've watch them fight, laugh, butt heads and defend their differing points of view. Indeed, these two are the Walter Mathau and Jack Lemmon (of The Odd Couple fame and minus the gray hair and arthritis of course) of Television Jamaica (TVJ), and just like that famous twosome, Simon Crosskill and Neville 'Bertis' Bell make it work.

'Smile Jamaica' has virtually been their morning playground for the past ten years, where viewers get to watch them make fun of each other in the midst of interviewing some of most interesting and influential personalities from Jamaica as well as overseas. Beneath all the kidding around, there is a mutual admiration and respect for each other's expertise that makes the rapport easy and the work enjoyable.

The obvious common denominator between the two is the area of sports, but it is more than just a passion for sports that keeps them on the set. According to Bell, the whole dynamics of their partnership started in 1997 before what is now known to football fans as 'The Road to France'.

"I think it was shortly after RJR bought out JBC. First, Dahlia did the show with Simon and then Dahlia wasn't well and he asked me to fill in but I wasn't so interested. I wasn't into getting up early. The producer at the time also thought it was a mistake, as the sentiment at the time was that Jamaica was not into seeing two men on television. Well it is a mistake that worked," he said with a grin.

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Elaine Maharaja - "Living Red" and Loving It!
She is an impressive figure, one that has been behind the scenes of one of Jamaica's most successful corporate bodies. She provides a grounded example of work ethic for her young protégés, a breath of fresh air and an injection of passion. She represents a vivid embodiment of her company's "Live Red" philosophy and is a true businesswoman in a male dominated world.

With over 20 years experience, Elaine created a reputation of creativity and perseverance which has been her stock in trade despite her many job descriptions within Red Stripe and has created a staggering trail of success and adulation in the process. Her contributions to the company's achievements have provided her with the satisfaction of a "job well done" and she continues to make her mark in one of the most demanding fields.

The job of events marketing encompasses many things. Layout, décor, branding, possible risks, all of the details, even the smallest details that many persons overlook when attending an event. This is the field that Elaine and her dedicated team practices their art, both seen and unseen. She has managed the events marketing department and earned the respect of her peers, staff and execution agencies. After seven years as manager, she stills speaks affectionately about her role and responsibilities. The question remains, what makes Elaine tick?

The first answer to the question is her daughter Shari. "Mommy has always been a guiding light in my life, she is not only my mother, she's my friend. When I talk to my friends, I realize how lucky I am to have a mother who willing to be upfront with me, with her opinion, is not afraid to pull the punches, but makes sure that I know I am loved. She has a way about her that I cannot describe, but I know that I am a product of her."

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