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Former PHD President, Carl Sylvester, Remembered
September 17, 2018
Banks Holdings Limited (BHL) and its subsidiary, the Pine Hill Dairy (PHD), have lost a trailblazing pioneer, following the recent death of the former PHD President, Carl Sylvester.
“The management and staff of the Banks Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries were extremely saddened to learn of Mr. Sylvester’s passing,” said former CEO of BHL, Richard Cozier. “Mr. Sylvester left an indelible mark on the company and will forever be remembered as a kind, disciplined and dedicated leader, who was always focused on the well-being of his staff. We extend sincere condolences to his family.”
Mr. Sylvester began his tenure at the PHD in 1965 – a year before the company officially opened its doors. In those first days, he played a key role in preparing the plant for future operations, even assisting with the manual labour required during the construction phase. He continued to demonstrate this same unwavering dedication to the PHD during the 35 years he spent with the company, expanding the PHD brand and pioneering new technologies, sometimes working 12 hours a day for weeks at a time to lend support to his team.
A native of Grenada, Mr. Sylvester held a degree in Food Science with a specialization in Dairying from Reading University in the United Kingdom. He was recruited by Northern Dairies to receive specialized training in Agriculture and Dairy Management.
During his time with the PHD, Mr. Sylvester held several leadership positions, including Production Manager, Factory Manager and General Manager. He was eventually promoted to the position of President, which he held between 1983 and 2000.
In an interview for PHD’s 50th anniversary in 2016, Mr. Sylvester recalled that his role as President was demanding and complex at times, but he fully embraced the challenges, and worked incessantly to create, train and expand his team.
Mr. Sylvester left a remarkable legacy of hard-work, selflessness and kindness, which will resonate within the walls of the PHD for years to come.
Former President of the Pine Hill Dairy, R. Carl Sylvester,