After working 44 years at the Fiji Electricity Authority, its board chairman Nizam -ud-Dean was last night farewelled by staff and Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Faiyaz Siddiq Koya.

Mr ud-Dean was the board chair for nine years and spent years as the Authority’s chief executive officer.

And, while farewelling him, the new board chairman Daksesh Patel was welcomed to the helm of the board by Mr Koya.

Mr Koya acknowledged Mr ud-Dean’s leadership of the Authority during some of its most trying times.

“One must not forget how Mr Dean steered the FEA through economic turbulence which was caused by the crisis in the domestic markets and international markets of oil supply.

“During his leadership, the FEA was able to achieve one of the best accomplishments ever and that was to be financially stable and independent. This is evidently and impressively portrayed in the good profitability level of the FEA,” Mr Koya said.

In 2011 FEA’s total asset value exceeded F$1billion and concurrently added significant shareholder value in recent years. For this reason, shareholder value increased from $414.7 million in 2010 to $647.2m in 2015.

“Mr Dean is passionate about business excellence and other productivity tools which promotes staff empowerment, customer focus, capacity building and building leadership systems within the organisation.

“The implementation of these tools in the FEA is demonstrated through the financial achievements and successful implementation of electricity projects.”

Mr ud-Dean started as an electrical engineer in 1972.

He was seconded  to  the  Electricity department of the Suva City Council (SCC) and became the Council’s deputy chief Electrical Engineer two years later.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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