MTA Appointments

April has been an eventful month at the Malta Tourism Authority, with a number of important appointments being announced. These include: Director Southern Europe (Marketing), Director Communications and PR, Financial Controller as well as Human Resources and Administration manager-designate.

Director Southern Europe

The Malta Tourism Authority has appointed Mr. Simon Kamsky to the position of Director Southern Europe with effect from 1st August 2007.

This is a newly created position within the restructured Marketing operation of MTA . Mr. Kamsky will be working very closely with Joseph Galea, Director International Marketing, in the planning and co-ordinating of the authoritys marketing activities in Southern Europe. Mr. Kamsky will be based at a new office that MTA is having in Rome, located within AirMaltas offices in the Italian capital.

MTAs established representatives in Italy, France and Spain will assist Mr. Kamsky in his role and responsibilities. The Southern European region is targeted for further growth in the next years and the MTA is confident that Mr. Kamsky can support and direct this development.

Mr. Kamsky is certainly no newcomer to tourism having as well held the position of Senior Marketing Executive at MTA from June 2002 to July 2003. Since 2003 Mr. Kamsky has been the Sales, Marketing and Operations Manager of Venezia Lines based in Croatia. Before coming to MTA Mr. Kamsky was Sales and Marketing Executive with a local Destination Management Company, Special Interest Travel Ltd.

Director, Communications & PR

Kevin Drake has been appointed Director, Communication & PR. The post involves overall responsibility for the PR and Communications office, the Hospitality department, the Tourist Information offices, PR Projects as well as the Customer care and Information department, amongst others. The Communications and PR division is nevertheless an integral part of the entire Marketing function of the MTA.

Kevin has over 20 years hands-on experience in the media, as well as in the communications and PR sector, both locally and overseas. Having spent a number of years as a journalist, broadcaster and media station manager, Drake then ran his own Communications and PR firm, as well as being senior partner in a UK-based PR consultancy company. Kevin Drake has been with the Malta Tourism Authority since the first of January 2006.

Human Resources and Administration Manager Designate

Beverly Cutajar is the MTAs new Human Resources and Administration Manager Designate. After obtaining a Batchelors Degree in Humanistic Studies at the University of Malta, Beverly decided to take her studies further and in the Year 2003 obtained a Masters Degree in Training and Human Resources Management. She started her career in Human Resources with Corinthia Hotels International during the same year. Beverly is now reading a Doctorate in Social Sciences which specializes in Human Resources Development with the Centre for Labour Market Studies at the University of Leicester in England, which course is facilitated through the Foundation for Human Resources Development (FHRD) which Beverly is an active member.

Beverly has a particular interest in areas such as Employee Development through personal training, mentoring and coaching especially at a Managerial level, and is highly engaged in developing peoples skills such as leadership, communication and organizational, amongst others. She was engaged in various projects and is now involved in a Leonardo da Vinci project funded by the EU which is called Competencies Development through Self-learning in Service SME with 12 partnering institutions from 6 different countries in Europe.

Financial Controller

James Vella, Certified Public Accountant and holder of an Audit Practice Certificate is the newly-appointed Financial Controller of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Mr. Vella received his formal education at St. Aloysius College B’Kara. He later read for B.A. (Hons) Accountancy at the University of Malta where he graduated in the year 2000.

Mr. Vella commenced his career with one of the leading audit firms. He was exposed to several large audit assignments both locally and overseas. During September 2003, James joined the Malta Tourism Authority and took up one of the leading roles within the Finance Department.

During his tenure, Mr. Vella was instrumental in a number of key projects within the Finance Department. These include:-

• The changeover to a new accounting system;
• The setting up of a new company to act as the marketing arm of the Malta Tourism Authority;
• The design and presentation of the monthly management accounts.

Mr. Vella will be leading the Finance Department team and will be responsible for:-

• Budgetary Management and control of MTA ‘s funds.
• The Maintenance and control of an efficient accounting system by establishing procedures and working methods that adhere to International standards and legal requirements.
• The direct involvement in the financial aspects of major MTA projects.
• The administration and accounting for all monies received from various tourism related services.

Mr. Vella is a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants and is in his final stages in obtaining his ACCA qualification.