David Christopher Cohen Henriques Head of Business, Porsche Jamaica

Home is…

Kingston 8, and my second home is 50-52 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5.

My three favourite things about Kingston…

The food.

The ability to enjoy the slight hustle and bustle of city life but to be able to escape it all by heading to the beach or the hills.

The overall relaxed vibe of Jamaica as well as how progressive we are as a nation.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Kingston?

Absolute favourite thing to do is a long drive to the country with music blaring.

What’s your idea of a perfect day?

Perfect day would be a day on the beach with loud music, friends, ice-cold beers, maybe a little white rum, and a football. It doesn’t get much better than that for me.

Top two chill spots?

The gym may be my favourite chill spot; that’s definitely where I go to de-stress and gather my thoughts.

A “White Rum Bar” — a little hole in the wall watering hole situated in the Liguanea/Old Hope Road area that always has the right oldies on blast.

First place on your travel list.

This list changes very often, haha. But, I would say right now, first place would be Germany, to get the true Porsche experience.

What cologne are you splashing?

The Bvlgari Man collection has a few colognes that I really like, but I think my current favourite is Bleu de Chanel.

Loafers or lace-ups?

Always loafers!

What’s your dream car?

Dream car is definitely a 911 Turbo S, gun-metal grey with white interior.

Favourite designer?

I believe in supporting local. So I can safely say Dexter Huxtable from Spokes Apparel is my favourite designer.

What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about being successful. I want to be the best that I can be in everything that I do, no matter what it is. So I am willing to give my all and some more to achieve that.

What is your next big project at work?

The next big project at work would be the introduction of the new 911, which is by far the most iconic sports car in the world, and the introduction of the Taycan, which is Porsche’s first fully electric model. This will be a big step for Jamaica and the environment and it’s amazing that Porsche can be a part of that.

What’s so special about the 2019 Porsche Cayenne and the Macan?

The 2019 Cayenne is really special because of the way Porsche has managed to build one of the toughest SUVs in the market while still maintaining the DNA of a sports car. It is an SUV that is jam-packed with technology and safety features but maintains the everyday practicality of an SUV while still allowing the driver to feel like they are in a sports car. It really is a car that everyone in the family can enjoy; hence the theme Sports Car Together.

The 2019 Macan, even though it is just a facelift, the designers at Porsche have found a way to make the perfect mid-sized SUV even better. The lines and the curves on this car have just gotten even better, making it hands down the sexiest SUV in the market while maintaining a robust, sporty vibe. It is a car that can make every single owner smile. The car is really “thrilling”.

Of the two models, which is your favourite, and why?

I will choose Thrilling; the Macan is my choice. I love sports cars. Handling, speed and agility are what I look for in a car. The Macan embodies all these things while maintaining the everyday practicality and ability to be driven in any condition/terrain. The Macan really does tick every single box for me.

My goal is…

My goals definitely change as I progress in life, but my current goal right now is to do everything in my power with the help of my directors and CEO to make Porsche one of the most successful brands in Jamaica, and also make Porsche Jamaica one of the top markets for Porsche in Latin America.

Who is your hero?

I wouldn’t say I have a hero; my personality doesn’t really lean towards that. But there are a few people in my life who have really played a big role in who I am today.

Firstly, my father. I’ve never met a more dedicated and hard-working man in my life. He has definitely instilled in me the desire to work hard and always give my all.

My grandfather has always been a voice of reason for me. I believe you will never know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re coming from. So to have someone who can teach so much about life, about business and tell me about my family history is very important for me.

My mom is my life, my biggest supporter, my greatest teacher; she really is my everything. She has been through everything with me, every football and cricket match, every up and down in school, every win and loss in life, and the way she has supported me through it all definitely makes her my number one.

Lastly, I would say my Uncle Derek. It’s always necessary to have that one adult who you can talk to when your parents are being impossible. That person who will set you on the right path by allowing you to make your mistakes but also being the one to tell you as it is with no reservations because they also want the best for you. He has always supported me in my decisions letting me know that whether it works out or not there is always a way to overcome a hurdle and that it’s really okay to make mistakes; it’s just how we recover and learn from them.

What would you say today to your teenage self?

Study!!!! Study harder and study more, and maybe to diversify what I’ve studied a bit more. I spent my teenage years focused on the sciences. Maybe I should have spread my wings a bit more and integrated some business or economics.

I’ve become the man I am because…

As clichéd as it is, I am the man I am because of my parents. The discipline, the tough love, the never-ending support no matter what I’m doing, the unconditional love (even though I know sometimes it was really hard, haha). The way they raised me and the values and morals they instilled in me are definitely the reason I am who I am today.

Any regrets?

No regrets. I believe everything happens for a reason, and the timing in which it happens is all for a good reason. Bridges were meant to be crossed and hurdles put there for you to find a way to overcome. Everything in my life has taught me a good lesson and made me stronger in some way.