The final pieces of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) new executive structure are falling into place, with Guardian Media confirming that Ellen Lewis will return to the utility company as Director of Customer Care.
“I can now confirm I’m taking up an offer at WASA effective July 7,” Lewis said yesterday. “I’ll be coordinating the affairs of the division in an interim capacity.”
Guardian Media has also seen the internal announcement circulated to staff, in which acting CEO Jeevan Joseph welcomed Lewis back to the organisation as part of the “WASA Evolution Team.”
Joseph said Lewis brings “extensive expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, and customer-centric leadership,” having previously held responsibility for customer service and corporate communication at WASA. Her return, he added, is aimed at enhancing customer care delivery and collaboration.
Lewis, who resigned last week from her role as manager, Corporate Communication and Education at the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission, was well known to the media over the years during her time in the TTPS’ Communications Department as well.
Her appointment now makes it 13 people placed in senior executive roles at WASA, excluding the six others as regional or project heads.
The first wave of replacements was announced via internal email on June 25 after the CEO, Keithroy Halliday and the executive team were dismissed with immediate effect.
The new structure was approved by WASA’s Board of Commissioners. A second internal document outlined proposed salary packages, including a compensation of $108,000 a month after allowances for acting CEO Joseph.
Joseph was also given interim oversight of the Operations Division, while Krishna Persadsingh, acting Director of Wastewater Services, was tapped to oversee Customer Care “until the respective appointments are made.” Lewis had been tipped for the role at the time, but no confirmation was given.
Joseph confirmed last Monday that Mannoo Bridglal was subsequently appointed Director of Operations for a three-month term via consultancy.
The appointments have come amid ongoing public and political scrutiny, after nine members of the previous executive were dismissed just months after being hired to oversee utility reform. Joseph has said all current director posts will be advertised before any permanent appointments are made.
The list of senior executives now includes:
Jeevan Joseph – Chief Executive Officer (Ag)
Natalie Huggins – Corporate Secretary/General Counsel (Ag)
Mervyn Gibson – Director, Human Resources (Ag)
Lancelot Lezama – Director, Finance (Ag)
Dain Maharaj – Director, Corporate Services (Ag)
Krishna Persadsingh – Director, Wastewater Services (Ag)
Shawn Salandy – Director, Strategic Programme Development & Implementation (Ag)
Kendall Spencer – Head, Procurement (Ag)
Rachelle Wilkie – Head, Payments, Treasury, Financial and Capital Reporting (Ag)
Leah Guevara – Head, Audit & Compliance (Ag)
Cheryl Heather Blanchard – Head, Legal Services (Ag)
Ellen Lewis – Director, Customer Care (Ag)
Mannoo Bridglal, - Director of Operations (on three months contract)
Alongside these senior roles, other executives were also assigned as regional and project heads. They are:
Glason Gurusaransingh – Head, North East Region
Fareed Ali – Head, North West Region
Ryan Bachu – Head, Central Region
Maria John – Head, South West Region
Renny Bharath – Head, Project Implementation
Ronald Ramkalawan – Head, Wastewater Projects