“Back in 2014, Malta International Airport set out to further develop the country’s tourism product by investing directly in Malta’s heritage and the environment through the independent Malta Airport Foundation,” said outgoing Malta Airport Foundation chairman, Fredrick Mifsud Bonnici.

“Five years on, with a slew of successful projects already under its belt and a renewed vision for the future, the foundation can look forward to completing the projects it has taken on while exploring new partnerships and potential investment opportunities,” Mr Mifsud Bonnici added.

“Mr Mifsud Bonnici’s contribution and leadership throughout these past five years have set the Malta Airport Foundation off on a strong footing,” incoming chairman Mr Formosa Gauci said.

“As I step into my new role, I look forward to continuing to work closely with the board as well as key stakeholders to enable the foundation to continue preserving and promoting the identity of the Maltese Islands whilst honouring our country’s heritage,” the new chairman added.

The NGO says that its refreshed branding reflects the “vibrant settings” in which it operates, ranging from the “Mediterranean blues” of the surrounding waters to “deep earth tones reminiscent” of traditional Maltese landscapes.

Under new leadership and with a renewed identity, the Malta Airport Foundation promises to continue investing in the preservation and conservation of local heritage, while also keeps a commitment to its mission of reimagining local heritage as it brings forgotten or hidden aspects of Malta’s history and culture back to life.

Since its establishment, the foundation has launched two underwater documentaries, putting the islands of Filfla and Comino in the spotlight, is currently supporting the ongoing excavation of a Phoenician shipwreck in Gozo and is sponsoring research work being carried out by the University of Malta on a triptych dedicated to the Virgin of Succours. The foundation has also partnered up with NGO Żibel to commission sea bins in both Marsaxlokk and Marsascala. Nine seabins have been approved and funded while another nine seabins are in the pipeline to be added to Malta’s shoreline.

Recently, the foundation unveiled the newly restored 17th-century Ta’ Xutu watchtower, which was the first project to be taken on in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa. The foundation also made substantial headway on the restoration of the Combined Operations Room in Valletta, which is expected to be reopened to the public early next year, and sponsored several local events, including the fifth edition of the Valletta Film Festival and the Joseph Calleja annual concert, the press statement adds.

The post Malta Airport Foundation names new chairman first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Bonello was appointed as Non-Executive Director of HSBC Malta in July 2013 and is presently Chairman of the bank’s Audit Committee and is a member of the bank’s Risk Committee. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant, and was formerly the Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC in Malta, retiring from this post in December 2009.

“I would like to extend my best wishes and thanks to my colleague and friend Sonny. He has been an exceptional chairman of our board during a period of great change in our bank. His experience and personal qualities have enabled him to lead the board with unwavering courage and integrity,” Mr Bonello said.

“I am greatly honoured that the majority shareholders have placed their trust in me by appointing me as chairman. As we enter the next phase, our board will continue to support our executive and management teams as they build a stronger and safer customer-focused bank in the interests of our depositors, our customers, our shareholders, our people, our brand and the jurisdiction as a whole,” the newly-appointed chairman added.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Chairman of HSBC Malta for the past 12 years. Throughout this period I have worked with a talented and determined HSBC executive team, and I wish them all the best for the future,” said Mr Portelli.

“I also want to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to John on his appointment who I am sure will lead HSBC Malta with eminent leadership and strategic vision. As a bank, we believe in doing the right thing, so it is only befitting that I step down after serving for 12 consecutive years, the maximum term possible, as mandated by the best practice governance guidelines,” the leaving chairman added.

“I would like to pay tribute to our Chairman Sonny Portelli after 12 years of service. Sonny has chaired our bank with distinction through a period of unprecedented change in the financial services industry. He leaves with our thanks and admiration, and we wish him and his family well for the future,” said Andrew Beane, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Malta.

“I am delighted to congratulate John Bonello on his appointment, subject to regulatory approval, as the next Chairman of HSBC Malta. John has been a Non-Executive Director of HSBC Malta for nearly six years and already knows our business very well. The high regard with which John is held locally and across the HSBC Group makes him ideally placed to lead HSBC Malta’s board in the next phase of our strategy,” Mr Beane added.

The post HSBC Malta announces new chairman first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Farrugia has been working with the senior management team for the last 18 months as a business coach. Taking on his new role, Mr Farrugia will continue to chair the Vistage Malta CEO groups and support some of the key clients on their ongoing programmes, while supporting the team with their own development.

In a move hoping to further strengthen the management, the company announced further appointments: Christian Agius as Head of Technology, Charles Mifsud as Head of Products, Kenneth Agius as Head of Financial and Adam Buttigieg as Head of Customer Services.

Earlier this year, Shireburn made an investment in UP Limited, a business coaching and executive development company led by Nathan Farrugia. Mr Farruhia’s previous role as CEO at UP is taken over by Julian Azzopardi, former head of JAYE Malta, a non-profit education institution specialising in providing entrepreneurship education programmes to young people. The UP team also saw the appointment of Desiree Perez Ross as Head Coach, earlier this year.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with the Shireburn team over the past 18 months and am impressed with their competence and commitment, so leading the team is going to be an absolute pleasure. Our aim is to take the organisation through its next evolution, capitalising on the significant recent investments in people and technology to create even stronger products and services for our local and international clients,” said Mr Farrugia.

“Our goal is to keep Shireburn at the forefront of its market and continue to enhance our clients’ businesses through our products. We will continue to invest in our people and their skills to ensure the company remains a leader in the technology space and continues to attract talent, and I expect it to be a very interesting journey,” the new CEO added.

“Shireburn has a 35-year history of delivering software products to local and international companies and thousands of companies rely on Shireburn solutions to manage their respective businesses,” said John de Giorgio. “It is our responsibility to ensure the continuity of Shireburn’s support to our clients’ businesses for the next decades. We see the Shireburn team led by Nathan will provide such continuity,” he added.

“Shireburn has expanded rapidly over the last two years to a team of more than 60, including the establishment of frameworks for more remote workers to join our team. We have worked closely with Nathan Farrugia and his team at UP for the past year to assist and guide our management and team leaders to boost and empower our growing workforce,” Mr de Giorgo said.

The post Shireburn welcomes new CEO first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.