Richard Owen Byles was appointed Governor of Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) effective 19 August 2019.

Prior to joining the Bank Governor Byles has had a career spanning over 40 years in the private sector in the areas of business and finance and is one of the most accomplished corporate leaders of his generation. He has served as Council Member at the University of The West Indies, Vice President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and on many company boards.

His public sector service includes serving as the first private sector Co-Chairman of Jamaica’s landmark Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) formed to monitor Jamaica’s performance under our IMF-supported reform programme.

Mr. Byles holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and a M.Sc. in National Development from the University of Bradford, England. He was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters from Northern Caribbean University, and the Doctor of Business from the University College of the Caribbean.

He is also an inductee to the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Hall of Fame, and an awardee from both the Observer and Gleaner publications for his work as a private sector business leader.

Mr. Byles is married to Jacinth and has two sons, Pavel and Yannick.