Tony Whitton has been named a non-executive independent director on the board of Tower Insurance (Fiji) Limited, the company announced, filling the vacancy left by Isikeli Tikoduadua’s retirement at the end of February. Whitton’s appointment brings more than three decades of business and tourism leadership in Fiji and the wider South Pacific to the insurer’s governance team.
A statement from Tower said Whitton has been closely involved in growing large, people‑centric businesses across the region, with a particular emphasis on governance and operational resilience. He currently serves as managing director of Rosie Holidays and Ahura Resorts, an established tourism and hospitality group he has led since 1990. Tower noted his active industry leadership and history of engagement with government and sector bodies, particularly during “periods of significant disruption” for the tourism and service sectors.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Tower Fiji board, and I look forward to supporting the company’s ongoing resilience, growth and long‑term commitment to the region,” Whitton said in the company release. Tower’s board described his commercial experience and deep local knowledge as complementary to the insurer’s strategic priorities in Fiji and the South Pacific.
Tower Insurance chief executive and Fiji board chair Paul Johnston welcomed the appointment, highlighting Whitton’s “strong commercial mindset” and a track record of steering complex organisations through change. “His experience leading complex organisations through periods of change will be a valuable addition to the Tower Fiji board,” Johnston said, adding that the appointment strengthened the board’s depth of regional experience as Tower maintains its focus on supporting customers and communities in Fiji.
Whitton replaces former board member Isikeli Tikoduadua, who joined the Tower Fiji board in 2016 and retired at the end of February. Johnston paid tribute to Tikoduadua’s contribution, saying he had helped guide Tower Fiji through a “significant period of transformation” during his tenure.
The appointment comes as insurers operating in the South Pacific continue to weigh the impact of recurring shocks on tourism, infrastructure and communities. Tower’s move to add a director with extensive tourism and operational experience signals an emphasis on local market knowledge and governance capability as the company navigates ongoing industry challenges and opportunities in Fiji.
Whitton’s arrival on the Tower Fiji board will see him serve in a non‑executive capacity, advising on strategy and oversight rather than day‑to‑day operations at the insurer while maintaining his executive role in the tourism group he leads.