Carleton Williams CBE, was born in 1929, the second of eight children, to humble beginnings. After receiving his secondary education at Government High School he began employment with the Government of The Bahamas at the Treasury Department where he learnt the fundamentals of accounting and finance. Mr. Williams transitioned easily into the private sector, taking a position at Navios Corporation, a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation. He later tested his business acumen, becoming an entrepreneur in 1964 as a contractor for a housing development. From there he expanded his business to include retailing building supplies, and later expanded into fast-food when he introduced McDonald’s to The Bahamas.

The manufacturing sector was Mr. Williams’ next undertaking with the purchase of Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producer of Coca-Cola products. With his reputation as a strong business man, he was invited to serve on several prestigious boards, including but not limited to New Providence Development Company Ltd., the Central Bank of The Bahamas, and Automotive Industrial Distributors Ltd. Recognizing the importance of giving back he also served as a Member of the Board for local charities such as the Salvation Army and The Crippled Children’s Committee. Committed to education, at age 50 Williams earned his MBA from the University of Miami.

In 2016 at the age of 87, Mr. Carlton Williams CBE resigned as the Chairman of the Board for Caribbean Bottling Company, and in honor of his outstanding contributions to both industry and The Bahamas, the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship was created. [ DOWNLOAD DETAILS ]