Leta Havea Kami has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) and the first woman to take up the position, effective from September 2.

Lord Matoto chairman of the TDB Board said Leta who had over 20-years of banking experience was a very capable person to lead the bank during these challenging economic times and drive the transition phase towards banking services.

“She has contributed to the development of the bank into quite a successful public enterprise and has a strong impact going forward,” said Lord Matoto.

Leta said the appointment was an honour. “It is an exciting time to be the Managing Director and CEO and drive this new commercialisation phase for TDB. Under my leadership we will continue our successful development banking role which has served small and medium size businesses and the rural people of Tonga financial needs through our extensive branch network.”

Lita joined the bank in 1989 as a business advisor and worked her way up to manage key departments. In 2006 she was promoted to Deputy Managing Director-Operations and later became the Deputy Managing Director in Risk Management.

She served as Councillor of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tonga Post Board for three-years before becoming chairperson in April 2011 and was the Deputy Chair of the Remuneration Authority over the past two-years.

Leta holds a BA in Business Economics and an MBA from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, Willamette University in Oregon, USA.

She became the Acting Managing Director after Simione Sefanaia retired from the top job, in January 2013.