17 Dec 2018

Samoa PM's son named as new Finance CEO

6:05 pm on 17 December 2018

The son of Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been appointed to head the country's Ministry of Finance.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

The appointment of Oscar Thomas Malielegaoi as Chief Executive Officer was announced on Friday by the Minister of Finance and a former CEO, Sili Epa Tuioti.

The appointment takes effect from 1 January, with Mr Malielegaoi replacing the retiring Tupa'imatuna Iulai Lavea who has headed the ministry for the last nine years.

Tuilaepa was also CEO of the Ministry of Finance until he entered politics in the 1970s.

Mr Malielegaoi has been a director's advisor at the Asian Development Bank and is currently deputy CEO of Finance.

Samoan government heads are contracted for three years.