Kamehameha taps Wong as CEO

Livingston "Jack" Wong has been named chief executive officer of the Kame­ha­meha Schools educational trust.

The board of trustees announced Tuesday that Wong, who has been serving as interim CEO since April, had officially succeeded retired CEO Dee Jay Mailer.

"In the last six months, we have had the opportunity to work very closely with Jack, to personally experience the skills and professional and personal qualities he brings to Kame­ha­meha Schools," said board Chairman Lance Wilhelm in a statement.

"We value and appreciate his passion for our educational mission — Jack exemplifies the values of Pau­ahi, of Kame­ha­meha Schools and our lahui, and his leadership and commitment will serve us well," he said.

Wong, a Punahou School graduate, joined Kame­ha­meha Schools in 1997 as senior counsel specializing in real estate. He was promoted to director of the schools’ Endowment Legal Division in 2000 and helped lead Kame­ha­meha’s defense of its Hawaiian-preference admission policy. Wong was named vice president for legal affairs in 2013.

"I am very honored by the trustees’ vote of confidence in me," Wong said in the prepared announcement. "I believe we have built a mutually respectful and trusting relationship."