Dhiru Tanna, the economist who turned delicate soaps and hard lumber into a $4-billion business legacy, died on Monday night.
He was 82.
“We already have confirmation that he has died,” Jamaica National Group chief executive officer Earl Jarrett, told the Financial Gleaner in an interview.
Jarrett, who had visited Tanna in the days before his passing, described the death as unexpected despite a period of illness. “It was a rather sudden death,” he said.
Tanna served as a director of JN for over 45 years. “His PhD was in economics. He brought to the table his tremendous experience in business and academia and government service,” Jarrett recalled.
Born in Uganda, Tanna came to Jamaica through his close friend Professor Marshall Hall. He joined the University of the West Indies’ Faculty of Social Sciences, where he built a reputation as a gifted teacher, before moving into public service with responsibility for aspects of Jamaica’s energy portfolio, including early work involving the Jamaica Public Service Company.
He later built a formidable private-sector career, serving as chief executive of Neal & Massy’s Jamaican operations, and undertaking acquisitions including the purchase of the Geddes Grant Group. He went on to found Lumber Depot, currently valued at $1.8 billion in market capitalisation, and Blue Power Group, valued at $2.3 billion – the latter becoming one of Jamaica’s best-known local manufacturing brands.
Tanna had stepped down as chairman of Blue Power in recent times, signalling a deliberate succession rather than an abrupt departure.
For Jarrett, the loss is personal. “For me, in particular, he was a source of support, mentorship and guidance,” he said.
neville.graham@gleanerjm.com
