Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1081437
BUSINESS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2019 12 NATALIE Briffa Farrugia is the winner of the first edition of the Malta Busi- nesswoman of the Year Award, capping a remarkable journey from teaching pri- mary students to tending to the vulner- able in Ethiopia and Guatemala to lead- ing one of Malta's largest elderly home service providers, CareMalta Group Ltd. Amanda Xuereb scooped up the Young Businesswoman Award during a ceremony that saw a line-up of inspi- rational business leaders and pioneers descend at the Verdala Palace to cel- ebrate the spirit of female entrepre- neurship. The Company Award for Excellence was presented to Tigne' Mall plc for demonstrating a passion for inspiring, engaging, empowering, and furthering the success of women within its com- pany and in the community. Isabella Mifsud received a special mention for her inspiring commit- ment and for acting as a role model for others. Briffa Farrugia said she was honoured to have received the prestigious award. "Heartfelt thanks goes to HSBC Mal- ta and Presdient Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. My aim in life was always to make a difference in people's lives and I am blessed that my work allows me to do just that," she said. "If I were to share one message it would be this: look into yourself to find your uniqueness. I hope this initi- ative leads the way for more women to reach their full potential and be given a chance to contribute at high levels in society's platforms." With Briffa Farrugia at the helm of CareMalta, the business has been transformed from six homes, with 437 employees in 2008, to nine state- of-the-art facilities, with over 1,000 employees and nearly €27 million in turnover as of 2017. When not busy implementing high-care standards at work, she gets involved in the lives of her two young girls, contributes to Living Waters Mission, and prepares for her next marathon run. The Malta Businesswoman of the Year Awards were launched last year through a partnership between HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c and the Office of the President of Malta, with the aim of highlighting outstanding female leaders in the business and economic world. Coleiro Preca, who is patron of the awards, conveyed her heartfelt con- gratulations to the winners and all the nominees of the Malta Businesswom- an of the Year Awards. "Through these awards, we are not only celebrating the achievements of these remarkable women, but I am sure that we are also empowering our young women and girls to take up leadership roles across all strata of so- ciety," she said. Andrew Beane, CEO of HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c, said: "With the Malta Businesswoman of the Year Awards we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the achievements of women and cel- ebrate their many contributions to the business world and beyond. I hope the amazing women who have won this year's awards inspire others to follow in their footsteps." From left to right: Natalie Briffa Farrugia – Winner of the Malta Businesswoman of the Year 2018; President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca; Andrew Beane – CEO HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c.; Sonia Hernandez – Chair of Judging Panel Natalie Briffa Farrugia wins inaugural Malta Businesswoman of the Year Award MELITA, Malta's leading tel- ecommunications operator, has announced the acquisition of the local operations of Ozone, a licensed operator specialised in servicing business custom- ers. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. "This acquisition comple- ments strategic investments made in recent years to strengthen Melita's and Malta's offering to business clients. We see Melita as an enabler for lo- cal businesses wishing to lever- age digital technologies," Melita CEO Harald Roesch said. "Similarly, we provide solutions for international companies in key industries such as gaming, financial services, DLT and AI to ensure they consider Malta as their natural home in Europe for establishment and growth." Established over 15 years ago, Ozone is a boutique service pro- vider specialising in B2B servic- es primarily offering cloud PBX services, network infrastructure, Wi-Fi hardware and software solutions, hospitality solutions, as well as business broadband and fixed line telephony over its own wireless network. Ozone Managing Director, Robert Runza, stated "Backed by Melita's state-of-the-art Data Centre, resilient international connectivity, fibre presence in business centres as well as na- tionwide gigabit internet and a brand new 5G ready mobile network, we are confident we are placing ourselves in a better position to offer a stronger and better service to new and exist- ing clients." Malcolm Briffa, Director of Business Services at Melita, said that Ozone's services port- folio complements the current offering of Melita Business and will fit in well with Melita's ap- proach of offering a one-stop- shop telecommunications ser- vice to business clients. Operating under the brand "Ozone by Melita Busi- ness", this unit within Melita Business will ensure continuity to existing clients, whilst lever- aging Melita's infrastructure to offer wider service portfolio and improved quality of service. For more information about the companies visit Melita Busi- ness www.melitabusiness.com and Ozone www.ozone.com.mt Melita acquires business telecom specialist, Ozone CALAMATTA Cuschieri has announced the appointment of Franco Aloisio as Head of Marketing and Communica- tions. This appointment was made in view of the company's continued growth in the finan- cial services sector in Malta and abroad. Aloisio, who joined the firm in October 2018, brings with him over 20 years' experience in the area of marketing and corporate communications in various sectors such as finan- cial services, telecommunica- tions, insurance and journal- ism/ media. Prior to joining Calamatta Cuschieri, he was Head of Communications of HSBC Bank Malta plc and sat on the bank's executive committee. Earlier in his career, he occu- pied the role of Head of Mar- keting and Communications of GO plc, and prior to that he worked in marketing, public relations, market research and media with various organisa- tions. In his role, Aloisio is respon- sible for Calamatta Cuschieri Group's marketing and com- munications strategy, and has been tasked with managing and strengthening Calamatta Cuschieri's brand, products and services in line with the overall vision and strategic roadmap of the firm. "We are proud to welcome Franco on our team. He brings significant experience which will help us to continue to con- solidate and grow the way we communicate our brand, with a view to retain Calamatta Cuschieri at the forefront of the financial services sector in Malta," said Alan Cuschie- ri, Co-CEO of Calamatta Cuschieri. Calamatta Cuschieri is one of Malta's largest financial ser- vices firm that pioneered the local financial services indus- try as early as 1972. The Group currently employs more than 160 people, and offers a wide range of services including Investment Advice, Live On- line Trading, Life Insurance, Savings Plans, Pension Plans, Wealth Management, Soft- ware Development and Mar- keting services amongst oth- ers. Calamatta Cuschieri is also the representative and main distributor for UBS Funds in Malta. For more information please call on 25 688 688 or visit https://www.cc.com.mt Calamatta Cuschieri appoints head of marketing and communications Franco Aloisio, Calamatta Cuschieri's Head of Marketing and Communications