Fernance B. Perry
Encyclopedia
Fernance Bento Perry, MBE
, born in 1922, is a Portuguese-Bermudian entrepreneur and business leader, who has had a prominent role in the economy of Bermuda
since the mid-20th century. Originally from the Azores
, his professional career has spanned such diverse fields as retail supermarkets, television and radio broadcasting, real estate management, and maritime shipping. His philanthropic works have contributed to healthcare improvements and programmes of spiritual enrichment in Bermuda. In recognition of his achievements, Perry was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007.
, São Miguel Island
in the Azores
. He emigrated to Bermuda in 1926 as a 3-year old with his parents. As a young man in his early twenties living in Bermuda, a British overseas territory, he served in the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
during World War II
.
” grocery store in downtown Hamilton
, subsequently expanding his food marketing business during the 1960s–1970s to an island-wide chain of supermarkets. He eventually sold the retail chain of supermarkets called Piggly Wiggly in 1979, but retained the real estate. The new owners changed the chain's brand name to "MarketPlace", as it is now known.
Once called the island nation's "supermarket king" by Bermuda's Royal Gazette
newspaper, Perry has also been active in broadcasting and in real estate development. In 1994, he invested in a large Bermuda holding company, BDC, when it was experiencing cash flow
problems. Two years later, in 1996, he was named BDC's chairman, but sold his shares the following year.
He is majority shareholder and chairman of Bermuda Broadcasting
, which owns two of Bermuda's three over-the-air
television stations, ABC-affiliate ZFB (channel 7) and CBS-affiliate ZBM (channel 9), along with radio stations Power 95, FM 89, and FM 105. In 2008, in the wake of labour unrest and amidst a staff shake-up at the broadcasting company, Perry told the Royal Gazette
, "I think that the future looks bright". The following year, a strike by 40 unionised employees in April, 2009, halted all programming at the company's radio and television stations for four days. Perry said that changes in work rules and staff pay were needed "to help a financially ailing company". The work stoppage was settled and normal operations resumed on April 21, after government mediation.
Perry is currently President and CEO of Mayfair Ltd., a holding company with offices in Hamilton, as well as vice chairman of Bermuda Container Line Limited, which operates container ship
service to Bermuda from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey
, and Fernandina Beach, Florida
. He also is majority owner of Devonshire Properties Ltd., a real estate management firm.
Perry served on the board of directors of BF&M Limited, a Bermuda insurance company, from 1991 until his resignation in January, 2007. Perry is also on the board of trustees of Bermuda's Saltus Grammar School
, a prestigious private school.
A devoutly religious man, Perry is a member of the Evangelical Church of Bermuda, a Protestant church founded by Portuguese immigrants in 1890. He developed a 5.9 acres (2 ha) island he owned in the Great Sound as a Christian youth campground, naming it Grace Island. Equipped with a chapel and campsites, it is used by Word of Life youth groups and others. He is one of the founders of Willowbank Resort and Christian retreat in Bermuda, where such speakers as Woodrow Kroll of Back to the Bible
have conducted conferences. Perry is currently Willowbank's Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
, announced on for "services to commerce and the community". Asked by a Royal Gazette
reporter for his reaction upon learning he was awarded the MBE, Perry said, "All my friends will be happy to know that at least I have got something at my old age. I wasn’t expecting it but they say that when you don’t expect something then you get it." He was subsequently congratulated by resolution of the Azores parliament in January, 2007, for having achieved the honour.
and Florida, Perry is a member of the Mid Ocean Club
, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, born in 1922, is a Portuguese-Bermudian entrepreneur and business leader, who has had a prominent role in the economy of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
since the mid-20th century. Originally from the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, his professional career has spanned such diverse fields as retail supermarkets, television and radio broadcasting, real estate management, and maritime shipping. His philanthropic works have contributed to healthcare improvements and programmes of spiritual enrichment in Bermuda. In recognition of his achievements, Perry was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007.
Early life
The eldest of eight children, Fernance Perry was born in 1922 in Ponta DelgadaPonta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. He emigrated to Bermuda in 1926 as a 3-year old with his parents. As a young man in his early twenties living in Bermuda, a British overseas territory, he served in the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps
The Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps was created in 1894 as an all-white racially segregated reserve for the British Regular Army infantry component of the Bermuda Garrison...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Business career
In 1950, Perry acquired a small “Piggly WigglyPiggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly is a supermarket chain operating in the Midwestern and Southern regions of the United States, run by Piggly Wiggly, LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers. The current company headquarters is in Keene, New Hampshire....
” grocery store in downtown Hamilton
Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
, subsequently expanding his food marketing business during the 1960s–1970s to an island-wide chain of supermarkets. He eventually sold the retail chain of supermarkets called Piggly Wiggly in 1979, but retained the real estate. The new owners changed the chain's brand name to "MarketPlace", as it is now known.
Once called the island nation's "supermarket king" by Bermuda's Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette, founded in 1828, is the only daily newspaper in the island nation of Bermuda. It is published Mondays through Saturdays; there is no Sunday edition....
newspaper, Perry has also been active in broadcasting and in real estate development. In 1994, he invested in a large Bermuda holding company, BDC, when it was experiencing cash flow
Cash flow
Cash flow is the movement of money into or out of a business, project, or financial product. It is usually measured during a specified, finite period of time. Measurement of cash flow can be used for calculating other parameters that give information on a company's value and situation.Cash flow...
problems. Two years later, in 1996, he was named BDC's chairman, but sold his shares the following year.
He is majority shareholder and chairman of Bermuda Broadcasting
Bermuda Broadcasting
The Bermuda Broadcasting Company is the largest broadcasting company in Bermuda. Sometimes abbreviated locally as "BBC", it is not related to the BBC in the United Kingdom. A commercial, for-profit broadcasting company since its beginning in the 1950s, the chairman is Fernance B...
, which owns two of Bermuda's three over-the-air
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
television stations, ABC-affiliate ZFB (channel 7) and CBS-affiliate ZBM (channel 9), along with radio stations Power 95, FM 89, and FM 105. In 2008, in the wake of labour unrest and amidst a staff shake-up at the broadcasting company, Perry told the Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette, founded in 1828, is the only daily newspaper in the island nation of Bermuda. It is published Mondays through Saturdays; there is no Sunday edition....
, "I think that the future looks bright". The following year, a strike by 40 unionised employees in April, 2009, halted all programming at the company's radio and television stations for four days. Perry said that changes in work rules and staff pay were needed "to help a financially ailing company". The work stoppage was settled and normal operations resumed on April 21, after government mediation.
Perry is currently President and CEO of Mayfair Ltd., a holding company with offices in Hamilton, as well as vice chairman of Bermuda Container Line Limited, which operates container ship
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
service to Bermuda from Port Elizabeth, New Jersey
Port Elizabeth, New Jersey
Port Elizabeth is an unincorporated area within Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 08348....
, and Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. It is a part of Greater Jacksonville and is among Florida's northernmost cities. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe...
. He also is majority owner of Devonshire Properties Ltd., a real estate management firm.
Perry served on the board of directors of BF&M Limited, a Bermuda insurance company, from 1991 until his resignation in January, 2007. Perry is also on the board of trustees of Bermuda's Saltus Grammar School
Saltus Grammar School
Saltus Grammar School, founded in 1888, is an independent school in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda. It was a boys' school until 1992 when it became fully co-educational. It has two campuses, one for the Preparatory Department and one for the Junior Department, Senior Department and Graduate...
, a prestigious private school.
Philanthropy
Between 1989–1991, Perry was chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, when $13.8 million in improvements were made to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The "Perry Ward" at the hospital was named in recognition of his contributions to Bermuda health care.A devoutly religious man, Perry is a member of the Evangelical Church of Bermuda, a Protestant church founded by Portuguese immigrants in 1890. He developed a 5.9 acres (2 ha) island he owned in the Great Sound as a Christian youth campground, naming it Grace Island. Equipped with a chapel and campsites, it is used by Word of Life youth groups and others. He is one of the founders of Willowbank Resort and Christian retreat in Bermuda, where such speakers as Woodrow Kroll of Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, using radio, the internet, television, and other media...
have conducted conferences. Perry is currently Willowbank's Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Awards
Perry was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours 2007New Year Honours 2007
The New Year Honours 2007 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 30 December 2006, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2007....
, announced on for "services to commerce and the community". Asked by a Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette
The Royal Gazette, founded in 1828, is the only daily newspaper in the island nation of Bermuda. It is published Mondays through Saturdays; there is no Sunday edition....
reporter for his reaction upon learning he was awarded the MBE, Perry said, "All my friends will be happy to know that at least I have got something at my old age. I wasn’t expecting it but they say that when you don’t expect something then you get it." He was subsequently congratulated by resolution of the Azores parliament in January, 2007, for having achieved the honour.
Personal life
Perry's first marriage was to Trina Rose and they had one son, Richard. Perry is currently married to Janice Byrd (born 1952) and they have three children: Christopher (born 1980), Tiffany (born 1983), and Jonathan Michael (born 1985). Perry has four grandchildren as of 2010. Residing in Pembroke ParishPembroke Parish, Bermuda
Pembroke Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It is named after English aristocrat William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke ....
and Florida, Perry is a member of the Mid Ocean Club
Mid Ocean Club
The Mid Ocean Club is a private 6,520 yard, 18-hole golf course in Tucker's Town, Bermuda. Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald in 1921, it was modified to its current design in 1953 by Robert Trent Jones. It is consistently placed highly among world courses and is ranked 45th by Golf Digest for...
, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is a private yacht club that was established as the Bermuda Yacht Club on November 1, 1844. In 1845, Prince Albert consented to become Patron of the Club and in 1846 the Club was permitted to add the adjective "Royal" to its name...
.