For Richard Byles, the night was not simply about recognition. It was a moment of reflection on a lifetime spent helping to steer Jamaica through some of its most challenging economic periods.

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) governor was named the 2025 RJRGLEANER Platinum Awardee, receiving both the prestigious Platinum Award and the Public Service Award during a glittering ceremony at the RJRGLEANER studios on Lyndhurst Road.

Byles’ career has been defined by service at the highest levels of Jamaica’s financial and economic leadership. He is credited with guiding the BOJ through its historic transition to an independent central bank in 2022 and helping the country navigate the economic turbulence that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.