Christine Toretti, a Pennsylvania businesswoman and Republican power broker and the ex-wife of Arizona Wildcats basketball coaching legend Lute Olson, will be named the United States' next ambassador to Malta.Β
A press release from The White House called Toretti "an accomplished businesswoman, philanthropist and civic leader." She has been the Republican National Committee Chairwoman for Pennsylvania since 1997. She served as President and CEO of the S.W. Jack Drilling Company for over two decades, and has been director of the Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.Β
On Tuesday, Toretti named chair of the board of S&T Bancorp Inc. She has been involved with the bank, which carries $7 billion in assets, since 1984.Β
Located south of Sicily and north of the continent of Africa, the archipelago of Malta has a population of 400,000.Β The former British colony because a Republic in 1974.Β
Olson and Toretti divorced in 2008 following five years of marriage. The settlement came following months of legal wrangling and public nastiness.
