In Tribute to Grenfell Kissoon. On the occasion of his passing, Guardian Media produced this appreciation of the work of their former Managing Director. It is reproduced here with the company’s permission.

Birth: August 31, 1943
Death: August 23, 2023

The Management and Staff of Guardian Media Limited are deeply saddened by the passing of Grenfell Kissoon. The company extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Grenfell Kissoon was a long-serving top executive at Guardian Media Limited who shaped the local media industry.

With over 35 years of experience in management he was head of three major media companies – Guardian Media Ltd, Trinidad Broadcasting Company and Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT).

He also served as Manager Management Controls at Caroni 1975 Ltd. and was Human Resource Administrator for a 10-year period.

Kissoon worked with the ANSA McAL Group for 28 years.
He first joined the Group in 1993 as General Manager of Trinidad and Tobago Broadcasting Company Limited where he was responsible for the overall management of the company, as well as developing and implementing strategic and operational plans.

In 1994, he became the Managing Director of Trinidad Publishing Company Limited where he was accountable for the company’s operations.

Subsequently, in 1996, he was requested to be a part of the National Awards Committee for the Beautification of Highways.

Adding to his list of achievements, he joined the Group’s parent board as a Director in 2001.

Kissoon retired in August 2003 but continued his role at the Trinidad Publishing Company Limited in a contractual capacity until December 2009.

He acted as Coach and Mentor to Gabriel Faria, who was a CEO within the Group at the time.

In 2010, he resigned from his role on the parent board after nine years of service.

Kissoon was appointed chairman of the GML board in 2013. Following his retirement from GML in 2016 he continued coaching and mediating.

He was on the roster of mediators of the Dispute Resolution Centre and The High Court for Court Annexed Mediation Pilot Project 2013.

In 2022 Kissoon published his first book titled, “The People Factor in Enterprise Management: Practices and Behaviours for Creating an Inspired and Motivated Workforce–Getting the Best from People.”

The 123-page book, published in 2022 by Royards Publishing Company Limited, is an anecdotal account of the practice of management and leadership by the former managing director and chairman of GML.

In the book he sought to outline the approaches, strategies and tactical measures he employed during his 40-year corporate tenure to groom, inspire and motivate employees to work to their maximum potential.

The book received many positive reviews with former Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan calling it “a must read for leadership and management success”.