By Staff Writer
The Samoa Water Authority, SWA, reeled in a mixed reaction at the ‘big loss’ during the week of Commercial Manager Ms. Heseti Sione Vaai to the Samoa Life Assurance Corporation, SLC.
Vaai made the final leap to the top of the executive ladder when Cabinet appointed her SLC General Manager to cap off a career in the public service of close to 30 years.
“I’m very happy for her but at the same time gutted at the loss of her wealth of experience,” Samoa Water Authority CEO Seugamali’i Jammie Saena admitted.
“Seti played a key role in the SWA management and she has some big shoes to be filled for us.”
The new General Manager started her career as a public servant with the Audit Office before a short 6 years before moving over to the SWA where she worked for the last 23 years.
CEO Seugamali’i believes her working colleague while sorely missed has worked her way into her new job and thoroughly deserves it.
“I am sure she will bring a fresh perspective into her new work.”
The veteran public servant is a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of the South Pacific.
She is also the holder of a Business Diploma from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.
The newly appointed General Manager is the fourth in a rare streak of CEOs and General Managers appointed directly from the SWA while still serving as senior executive officers.
Ms Vaai’s executive appointment also places her in exceptional category of married couples holding top executive positions in the public sector at the same time.
Ms. Vaai’s husband Lautimuia Uelese Vaai is the General Manager of the Samoa Shipping Services.
