Reuben Portanier has been appointed chief executive officer of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority.

He is an economics graduate from the University of Malta and has senior management experience in the ICT industry and in Management Consultancy. He recently occupied the positions of Group Chief Officer (Strategy and Business Development) with the Datatrak Group, and Chief Information Officer with MITTS Ltd (now MITA). Apart from holding the position of Chief Information Officer with MITTS Ltd, he also occupied the positions of Department Manager for Strategy and Business Development and Department Manager for Human Resources with the same company.

Mr Portanier also has management consultancy experience both with the government’s in-house change management agency and with an international audit and advisory firm, having advised various blue-chip companies. In 2004, he assisted the Government of Bermuda in its capacity building exercise on ICT and eGovernment Strategic Planning.

“After a period of building the Authority’s framework and operations, the LGA is now moving into its next evolutionary phase, where we are in the process of consolidating our legislative framework, streamlining our practices, and broadening our outlook to continue being at the forefront of industry developments,” said LGA chairman Nick Xuereb.

“The board is confident that Mr Portanier’s strong strategic business acumen, strong leadership skills, and his extensive experience in the ICT industry will steer the LGA ahead and will position the Maltese jurisdiction as an international centre of excellence.” He thanked Michael Gonzi for his valid contribution over the past months as LGA’s Acting CEO.