People do business with human beings not companies.
And the people are the most valuable asset of a company.
Elenoa Baselala introduces some of those who have taken up new appointments as well as some who have been behind the performances of the companies they worked for.
Air Pacific
VICTOR Sharan, the company's regional general manager Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, retires next month after more than 42 years with the company.
Mr Sharan began his Air Pacific career in Fiji where he held many roles and made great contributions to a number of departments within the company.
He joined as an Airport Traffic Officer, and was subsequently promoted to broader roles with increasing responsibility including marketing development manager, global general sales manager, global freight director, and finally regional director Australia and New Zealand based in Sydney.
Mr Sharan was appointed as the regional director Australia in 1998 and took on the additional responsibilities of New Zealand and Asia in 2011.
"Victor's many contributions and leadership have helped make Air Pacific what it is today — one of the South Pacific's most successful airlines and a well respected company that has withstood the difficult test of time and will be celebrating its 65th year of existence in 2012," Air Pacific chief executive officer Dave Pflieger said.
Air Pacific plans to initiate a global search to fill this Sydney-based executive role.
Mr Sharan will act as a commercial adviser to the chief executive during and after its search.
Francis Tan, manager freight also retires from the company later this month.
He will be replaced by Watson Seeto, who returns to Nadi after establishing and managing Air Pacific's operations in Hong Kong as regional general manager — Asia. Mr Tan began his career in Melbourne as Air Pacific's manager - airport and freight and then moved to Fiji to handle the airline's network freight operations.
Under his leadership, Air Pacific moved from a subcontracted "GSA" structure to self handling in most locations worldwide.
"Francis' leadership and broad experience helped Air Pacific become a well-regarded and pre-eminent freight provider in the South Pacific region.
"We are all very grateful for his 22 years of dedicated service and we wish Francis all the best in retirement," Mr Pflieger said.
Mr Seeto began his Air Pacific career more than 30 years ago and has held senior management roles in airport operations, sales and freight with the company.
He was nominated to lead Air Pacific's start up in Hong Kong in 2009.
"We welcome Watson back home as our new regional general manager freight, and feel confident that he will be able to build on Francis' solid foundation in the Freight Division," Mr Pflieger said. Air Pacific is expected to announce Mr Seeto's replacement in the next three weeks.
FHUT
SAKEASI Seru and Arun Narsey have been appointed trustees of the Fijian Holdings Unit Trust.
A statement from the trust said both have extensive knowledge and vast technical and business acumen.
They replace Nalin Patel and Pradeep Patel. FHUT is a $36 million fund owned by more than 4000 unit holders and managed by Fijian Holdings Trust Management Ltd.
ANZ
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) has appointed Mathew Fisher as CEO Samoa.
Mr Fisher was previously an executive director in ANZ's Institutional Division, based in Melbourne. He will report to Vishnu Mohan, CEO Fiji and Pacific Central. "With his recent focus on growing Institutional business offshore and fostering connectivity across our regional markets, Mathew is well qualified to drive growth in our Samoa business," ANZ CEO Pacific, Michael Rowland said.
Mr Fisher has worked at ANZ for over 28 years in a range of roles in commercial banking, corporate banking and most recently, in senior roles within the Institutional business.
"ANZ is committed to building its business in Samoa to support the needs of our customers and connecting them to our network and expertise across Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America," Mr Rowland said. Mr Fisher replaces Steve Rogers, who has been appointed CEO Vanuatu, and will start on August 13 based in Apia.