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EDDIE WILSON

This week’s Samoalive Personality of the Week is Edward Lotasiano Wilson. Born at Moataa on the 1^st of April 1960, Edward now resides in the village of Lelata.

In 1988, he established his accountancy and consultancy firm E.L Wilson and Associates and was later incorporated into Wilex Marketing International (trading name for Wilson Investments Ltd.) In early 1994, he established Wilex Cocoa and Coconut Products factory at Moataa.

Eddie was educated at Marist Brothers, Mulivai and then at St Joseph’s College where he was head prefect in 1978 and dux in the same year .He then received a bachelor with 1^st honors in accounting majoring in economics and sub-major in commerce law from the University of Canberra, Australia in 1982.

Returning to Samoa, he worked in the Treasury Department from 1982 to 1985. During time with Treasury, he was promoted from Finance officer to Chief Accountant and was to be further promoted to Assistant Financial Secretary whence resigned for the Private sector.

From 1985 to 1987 he was the manager of the Pacific Corporate Services, a local office of an Australian based consultancy firm.

Whilst employed with Pacific Corporate Services, he was appointed company secretary for Samoa Breweries Ltd; and Samoa Hotel Co. Ltd (now Kitano Hotel) and also as accounting and economics part- time lecturer with the National University of Samoa. From 1987-1988 he was the manager of Coopers and Lybrand where he was in charge of all audits, accounting and consultancy work.

Highlights of your career:

The establishment of the Wilex Group (chocolate, cocoa and kava manufacturing). Winning the DTCI Exporter of the Year Award  for 3 consecutive years and the 1996 Inaugural ANZ Bank Excellence in Business Awards. As President of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters have worked well with  the Government in the partnership approach concept towards the promotion of the private sector as the engine of economic growth …this is seen through the various export and trade promotions in overseas market for S.A.M.E (Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters) led by Government which has resulted in increased export for Samoa”

The launching of the S.A.M.E 5 year Strategic Plan under his Presidency. Appointment as Honorary Consul for Korea in Samoa since 1998.

Where to in the future:

“To realize my dream of seeing Wilex’s transition into a successful public listed Samoan Company and a leader in the region in both export, trade and manufacturing” ; assist in the enhancement of the business and farming community of Samoa and to spend more quality time with family and friends.