The Malta Independent’s Content and Business Director Pierre Portelli resigned from his post early last week. His resignation from his position as a director of the company will also take place in the coming days.

Pierre Portelli joined Standard Publications Ltd in October 2013 to implement a new strategy that has placed The Malta Independent at the forefront of Malta’s leading media houses. Among other things, he was responsible for the internal restructuring process, in line with the industry’s trends, to shift successfully online news reporting and content generation via its newly revamped portal www.independent.com.mt

During his tenure, Pierre Portelli worked with both the editorial and sales teams on business models to create a synergy between the two, which has secured stronger content and attracted new clients.

Throughout his 25 years of experience in the media, Portelli started of in the Nationalist Party’s newsroom at Media.Link and went on to become Head of News and Broadcasting Editor until 2004, just after his involvement in the EU membership referendum and subsequent general election campaigns.

He went on to establish Watermelon Media with his wife, Diane, producing successful and award-winning TV programmes to this day.

He returned to politics when he served as President of the PN’s Administrative Council between 2008 and 2011.

In July of this year, following the June election which gave the Labour Party a landslide victory and delivered the PN a shattering defeat, Adrian Delia, who had made public his intentions to run for party leader, asked Pierre Portelli to advise him on political and media strategy. 

In August, Portelli took leave of absence from The Malta Independent. He has now tendered his resignation.

Asked if he intends to pursue a career in politics alongside the newly elected PN leader, Pierre Portelli admitted that he is still weighing his options and that he is seriously considering running for one of the top posts at the Nationalist Party. “For me to take such a huge step in my life I needed to free myself from the commitments and obligations related to my job at The Malta Independent,” Portelli told this newspaper.

He added: “These were four incredible years working with everyone at Standard Publications, a time in which I’ve learnt so much and an experience which has enriched my knowledge, but I feel that it’s time for me to move on.

“Having observed Simon Busuttil in his role as leader of the PN, I was convinced that he was the ideal candidate to become Malta’s next Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the PN didn’t make it at the polls and Simon shouldered responsibility like the true gentleman he is. 

“But the 2017 election forced me to realise that if I want to see my country taking the right direction based on honest and fair politics, I cannot achieve that result from the media trenches. My role cannot be one of an independent journalist any longer.

“I consider Adrian Delia to be the best person to lead the PN and the Opposition, which must direct its efforts to change the direction this government has steered our country into: that of a soul-less state.

“Hence I will stand foursquare with him and help him unite the party in seeing that the PN is truly open to all those who believe in good governance, fair opportunity and an open society.”