Retired judge Hilary Phillips assumed the position of interim chairman of Pulse Investments following the passing of co-founder and chairman Kingsley Cooper on June 18. Phillips, a co-founder, director and the second-largest shareholder of Pulse with 6.5 per cent interest at last disclosure, takes on her new role effective on Monday.
Cooper held 4.7 billion units, or 73 per cent of the shares. Pulse’s operations are led by co-managing directors Safia Cooper, who is Cooper’s daughter, and Romae Gordon, his long-time partner.
“Pulse is an important cultural institution to Jamaica and the Caribbean. Since inception, we have had an impact on the international fashion centres through our world-rated models,” said Phillips, a retired justice of the Court of Appeal, in a release announcing her appointment as interim chair. Pulse is one of the few modelling agencies to have secured contracts with international fashion brands, exemplified most recently by model Shantae Leslie’s appearance in a Louis Vuitton sweater on the cover of the 2023 annual report.
“More recently, we have expanded into hospitality and construction, and we are committed to building on the remarkable foundation established by our late chairman, Kingsley Cooper. I am honoured to serve as interim chair of the company with which I have been so closely involved from its very beginning,” Phillips added. Phillips has also served as president of Jamaican Bar Association, vice-president of the Organisation o.
