Chris Falzon (photo) has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Malta Enterprise Corporation with effect from 17 July.

He will be replacing Philip Micallef, who will be leaving at the end of June to take up his new position as CEO of Melita Cable. Mr Micallef has been leading the organisation for over two years and was instrumental in the fusing together into Malta Enterprise of the three organisations the Malta Development Corporation, the Malta External Trade Corporation and the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprises.

Mr Falzon has degrees in civil engineering, computing and mathematics and is warranted to practise as an architect and civil engineer in Malta. He has worked in a number of countries apart from Malta, including Switzerland, the UK, Australia and Hong Kong, where he spent seven years working as an engineer.

On his return to Malta in 1989, he joined the Malta Development Corporation as Technical Manager and in 1991 he joined the Manage-ment Systems Unit. In 1996 he went into private practice and in 1998 he was appointed chairman of the Planning Authority for a three-year term. In November 2001 he was appointed CEO of VISET Malta plc.

Malta Enterprise chairman Alec A. Mizzi said: “We would like to thank Philip Micallef for his sterling contribution to the corporation. His professionalism, commitment and vision were an inspiration to all who came into contact with him, and his contribution will be truly appreciated by all in the fullness of time. We wish him well as he returns to the telecoms sector he worked in prior to joining ME.

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Chris Falzon, whose experience and track-record should ensure he is a worthy successor of Philip’s, in taking ME forward to face the ongoing challenges and opportunities.”