CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Gina Pitts, returns to her native Britain this week after 14 years in Barbados, and the Foundation gave her a rousing send-off.
The foundation’s chief, Humphrey Metzgen, and his wife Gilly,hosted the farewell reception at their Sugar Hill, St James home last week and Pitts was kept busy as a bee, returning hugs and responding to expressions of appreciation and accepting farewell wishes from guests.
Members of the foundation’s board of directors, foundation staff, medical personnel and Pitts’ friends were invited to the reception and in a short speech Metzgen was glowing in his praise of the work done by the outgoing CEO, who first volunteered at the organisation when she moved to Barbados, accompanied by her son, in 2002.
Pitts told Social Scene she too regretted having to leave but “the time has come. My father is getting older and I need to get back to Britain to spend time with him”.