Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday appointed Maltacom’s non-executive chairman Sonny Portelli as the new chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
The appointment followed a period of statutory consultation between the Prime Minister and the social partners, after
former MCESD chairman Victor Scicluna handed in his
resignation at the end of February.
Dr Gonzi thanked Mr Scicluna for his contribution to the forum at a time when the country’s economy was going through drastic changes.
The Prime Minister added that he had recently participated in discussions, mainly with the social partners, on the subject of the council’s improvement.
He expressed his appreciation of the forum’s work, saying its validity and importance should never be underestimated. The forum was never intended to have executive powers, so it was important for it to remain a consultative body.
Asked about the success or otherwise of the forum, Dr Gonzi said he believed it worked very well, thanks to agreement between the social partners. He added that he was open to suggestions about improving the forum.
The Prime Minister said Mr Portelli was capable of acting as a moderator and also of identifying areas of agreement among the social partners.
Thanking the Prime Minister and the social partners for the trust they were showing in him, Mr Portelli said he was conscious that his job would not be an easy one, but he promised he would do his utmost to prove MCESD a successful forum for the benefit of everyone.
It was necessary for everyone to show a sense of goodwill and cooperation, said Mr Portelli, adding that he was pleased to see the enthusiasm of all the social partners in favour of achieving the forum’s goals.
New MCESD chairman welcomed
The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has welcomed the appointment of Mr Sonny Portelli as the new chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
In a statement, the chamber said it is encouraged by the fact that a person with a profile like that of Mr Portelli has accepted the challenge to lead the MCESD, even more so, when his appointment has the backing of the social partners represented on the same council.
The chamber said it would like to express its gratitude to Victor Scicluna for his untiring efforts to lead the council over the past years, and it is sure that Mr Portelli will continue to build on his significant contribution to the development of the MCESD.
In conclusion, the chamber said it is also aware of the great challenges being faced by the MCESD at this important stage of Malta’s socio-economic development, and reiterated its position that the recommendations put forward by Joseph F.X. Zahra in his report last year are applied in earnest to ensure a smooth and effective MCESD for the benefit of the country.
A profile of Sonny Portelli
Mr Portelli began his career with the Malta Civil Service. He left the service in the late 1970s to join the tourism industry, and has since successfully held a number of senior management appointments in the sector.
He is a marketing specialist and for the past 15 years has been a member of the senior management team of one of Malta’s leading group of companies.
Mr Portelli has held the position of chairman of the Maltacom Group of Companies since December 2003 and led the group through what is generally seen to have been the smoothest privatisation process of a Maltese parastatal company.
He is also a director of HSBC Bank Malta plc and a board member of a number of other local companies. He has travelled extensively and is well-known in tourism business circles, both locally and overseas.
Mr Portelli is also on the council of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and is a
member of several tourism, trade and related associations.
Mr Portelli is 62 years old, he is married and has two sons and a grandson. He collects books, enjoys listening to classical music and has a passion for football.