KINGSTON, Jamaica—JN Bank Limited announced a significant leadership transition as Managing Director Leesa Kow concludes her 22-year tenure with the institution on March 31. Keith Levy, the current chairman, will assume the role of interim managing director while the mutual-owned society conducts a search for a permanent successor.
Kow’s departure marks the end of a distinguished career that began in 2003 and culminated in her appointment to lead JN Bank in July 2022. Her exit coincides with the bank’s remarkable financial performance, having reported $1.2 billion in pre-tax profits for the nine-month period ending December 2025—more than double the $581.93 million recorded for the full fiscal year ending March 2025.
In an official statement, Kow reflected on her journey: “Working at JN has been the privilege of my professional life. I came here in 2003 and was given opportunities I could not have imagined by people who believed in me before I had earned it. I am proud of what we built together.”
Levy brings substantial banking expertise to his interim role, with over 25 years of international banking experience including positions at Bank of America and Credit Suisse. He has served as a director of JN Financial Group since July 2022 and as chairman of JN Bank since December 2024. JN Group CEO Earl Jarrett expressed confidence in Levy’s capabilities, noting his “sound perspective on key financial initiatives” and deep understanding of the bank’s mission.
This leadership change occurs amid broader restructuring within JN Group, which has included divesting interests in JN General Insurance and JN Fund Managers while reducing exposure to its UK banking operations. The group is implementing a turnaround strategy focused on capital strength, sustainable profitability, and disciplined cost management, with projections indicating an 80% reduction in consolidated net losses for the March 2026 fiscal year.
Kow’s departure represents the latest in a series of C-suite changes across Jamaica’s commercial banking sector, following recent leadership transitions at National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited and CIBC Caribbean Bank (Jamaica) Limited.