15 Jan 2013

American Samoa's power company appoints former CEO as new CEO

5:07 am on 15 January 2013

Utu Abe Malae has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the American Samoa Power Authority.

The new chairman of the ASPA board Fonoti Perelini Perelini confirmed the board unanimously selected Utu to be CEO at its first meeting last Friday.

The board also voided the contract of former CEO Andra Samoa who has been at the helm of ASPA since 2009.

Fonoti says no other personnel changes are being made at this time but is reviewing contracts of other management employees.

Utu was most recently the CEO of the Commonwealth Utility Corporation in the

CNMI.

He is a former senator, former president of the Development Bank of

American Samoa, and former director of Public Works, Department of Port

Administration and the LBJ Hospital.

Utu was also the longest serving CEO of ASPA before he resigned following disagreements with the Board of Directors.