Leiataua Samuel Decca Phineas has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Shipping Corporation. 

The 41-year-old, who is from Fa’atoia and Lepua’i Manono-Tai, is the current Operations Manager for the Government of Tokelau. 

He will take over from Papali’i Willie Nansen who has been the C.E.O. for 18 years. 

Early on Friday morning, Papali’i bid farewell to other Ministry C.E.O.s in an email announcing that he would no longer be with the S.S.C. 

Leiataua is not new to the S.S.C.He was an Assistant C.E.O. prior to moving to the Tokelau Office. Papali’i informed the other C.E.O.s in an email that Friday was his last day in office. 

 “Today, I greet you good morning and bid you farewell on my final day as C.E.O. for Samoa Shipping Corporation Limited. It has been a great honor and privilege to have worked with you throughout my tenure as C.E.O. for the last 18 years,” he said.;

He expressed appreciation for the support of the other C.E.O.s:

“For the 32 years I have served S.S.C, I acknowledge with much appreciation the government for giving me the opportunity to serve our people.” 

Papali’i said his colleagues were delighted with him leaving the S.S.C. in relatively good shape. 

“They say that everything has a beginning and an end. The timing to end this chapter seems about right as it could be,” Papali’i said. 

“So as I close the door to the past and open the door to the future to start a new chapter in my life, I wish all of you every success for the future. It has been a privilege working with you serving the government and the People of Samoa.”

According to a brief resume provided to the Samoa Observer, Leiataua holds a 2nd Mate Foreign Going certificate from the New Zealand Maritime School; a Master Class 2 Certificate; and a Maritime Auditors Certificate. 

He is married to Angie Palu Phineas. They have seven children.  

The son of the late Leiataualetauᾱ Herbert Samuel Phineas and Utuoge Fa’alolo Phineas, the newly appointed C.E.O. will start in three weeks’ time. 

He was previously a seafarer and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Maritime Training , the resume said.