Marlene Street Forrest, the recently retired Managing Director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), has made a swift return to the financial sector by establishing her own consultancy firm. Having concluded her 26-year tenure at the JSE in September 2025—a period the exchange hailed as exceptionally transformational—Street Forrest announced the launch of Street Forrest Business Consultancy Ltd in January 2026.
The venture represents a strategic redirection of her expertise rather than a conventional retirement. In interviews with Jamaican media, Street Forrest clarified that her motivation stems from identified gaps in corporate governance structures across businesses of all sizes. “I’ve seen where there are many things in business where small, medium, and even large companies need help,” she explained, specifically highlighting deficiencies in governance frameworks and unwritten operating procedures.
Her consultancy model will leverage the extensive network and knowledge she accumulated leading the Caribbean’s premier securities exchange. Services will encompass policymaking guidance, regulatory assistance, and hands-on mentorship programs for corporate clients. Beyond immediate structural improvements, Street Forrest envisions contributing to regional capital market development, potentially assisting other Caribbean nations in establishing or strengthening their stock exchange operations.
The consultancy will operate through a collaborative model, engaging external experts and credible industry providers to deliver comprehensive services. Street Forrest also expressed particular interest in supporting social sector organizations through pro bono or reduced-rate arrangements.
She measures success not by visibility but by systemic impact: creating robust governance systems that continue functioning long after her engagement concludes. This approach, she believes, will ultimately foster stronger enterprises, better-governed institutions, and more confident investment environments throughout the region.