Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Reid Group has hired Lewis Wolman to serve as CEO of their family-owned businesses. Wolman, who is the former owner and publisher of Samoa News returns to the territory after relocating to the U.S. several years ago, settling in Hawaii most recently.

Reid Group Managing Director Leone Peter E. Reid III said Wolman is well suited to carry forward the Reid family tradition with his long record of success in the local business community and deep connection to the territory. 

Wolman will report to the Board of Directors, which includes the children of the late Senator HC Lealaifuaneva Sir Peter E. Reid Jr., who passed away in 2016 after decades of growing the Reid businesses and serving the community in a wide variety of leadership positions.

“The Board of Directors wants to make sure that all the Reid companies are on a sound footing as we continue our 115-year-old tradition of meeting the needs of our customers in American Samoa,” said the Reid Group Managing Director.

Wolman will serve as the Chief Executive Officer for the Reid group, but the individual companies will continue to be led by General Managers. Wolman will assume many of the duties of Olivia C. Reid, who has moved to Hawaii to care for her aging mother and aunt. Wolman is transitioning into his new role from now until July, at which time he will assume full responsibilities as CEO for the Reid group of companies.

 “I always admired how Leala positioned the Reid companies to serve, serve, serve,” Wolman said yesterday. “When I was in the private sector at Samoa News and Bluesky, I was inspired by how the Reid companies achieved business success while also operating in a Samoan fashion, always treating their staff and customers with respect and dignity, always putting the community at the forefront of their business practices. I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead the companies at this time.”

BACKGROUND

After moving to American Samoa in 1982, Wolman served in both the private and public sectors. He is best known for his years as publisher and editor of Samoa News, and his work as a telecommunications executive at both Bluesky Communications and ASTCA. He has twice served as President of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce and was for many years a member of the Amerika Samoa Arts Council Choir. He is married to Eletise Matagi Wolman of Pago Pago.

The Reid businesses include Samoa Motors (Ford) and Pago Motors (Hyundai), SLC (Vaimalu bottled water), GHC Reid Family of Fine Beverages (distributors of Coca Cola and Vailima), and Peter E. Reid Stevedoring and Shipping Agency (stevedores for Swire, Matson, NYK and Kyowa shipping lines, and shipping agent for Samoa Shipping Corp /Lady Samoa and fuel tankers).

(Source: Reid Group media release)