There will be a new CEO at the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) next month as Usman Saadat, currently the Director of Policy and Regulation, takes the reins following the conclusion of a competitive and rigorous recruitment process.
Chairman of the URCA board Wayne Aranha said the decision was made after careful consideration of the regulator’s agenda.
He said URCA received applications from the local market as well as regional and international candidates for the position that will be vacated by Michael Symonette on September 30.
“During a period of significant change,” said Aranha,”Mr. Symonette provided stability and direction, and the organization benefitted from his sound advice based on the benefit of long-term service with the industry and the Government of The Bahamas.”
With Saadat moving into the role of CEO, URCA will begin a competitive process to fill the role of Director Policy and Regulations required in the URCA Act, a position the board hopes will be filled within a few months.
Saadat has more than 15 years of global experience in regulation and competition strategy, coupled with a proven track record in leadership roles in the communications industry. He not only served as an advisor to major regulatory projects for the European Commission, having led projects for the European and Asian national telecommunications regulators, but also has significant experience in the region. He has also served as CEO of Cable and Wireless (now LIME) operations in St Lucia, as well as extra regionally in the Seychelles.
Aranha, reflecting on the past 13 months of the Authority’s existence, noted that one of its key strategic initiatives has been to build institutional capability within the Authority. To this end, he noted that management, with the full support of the Board, had embarked on a multi-pronged approach intended to ensure that URCA attracts, maintains and develops its human capital.
“After having undergone a competitive recruitment process that once again saw URCA receiving applications from interested candidates locally, regionally and abroad, URCA is pleased to formally advise that it has successfully attracted two very experienced regulators to fill the post of Senior Case Officer-Legal and Economics, respectively,” read a statement by the organization.
One of the candidates, it said, was Bahamian while the other was a Caribbean national.
“They are both well versed in their areas of expertise, having served in senior positions in the regulatory landscape in the Caribbean and internationally and in varying capacities as operator, advisor and regulator,” the statement said. “No doubt their collective experience will serve to further enhance URCA’s existing pool of policy and regulatory talent.”
Inderia Saunders
The Nassau Guardian
