Former State Trading Organization (STO) board member Fathimath Ashan has been appointed as the Managing Director of Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM), marking a historic milestone as the first woman to lead an STO subsidiary company.

Ashan, who previously served as STO's Senior General Manager and MIFCO's Deputy CEO, takes over the position following the resignation of Ismail Suhail on November 26.

FSM, a subsidiary of STO, plays a crucial role in the Maldives' energy sector, managing fuel imports and distribution across the archipelago.

Ashan brings significant experience to the role, having held several senior positions including General Manager and Head of HR at STO, as well as Deputy CEO at MIFCO.

Her academic achievements are equally impressive – she was named top graduate for her Business (Information Technology) Diploma at Australia's Hobart Institute of Technical and Further Education (1993-1994), earning a special government award in 1995.

She later completed her MBA at Malaysia's KDU College (2002-2003), graduating first in her class and receiving another special government award in 2004.