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30.05.19 8 NEWS HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. is con- tinuing to offer customers support to purchase a home through a range of home loan options. e bank has also made significant improvements in its home loan service. e bank an- nounced this during an exclusive networking event held for real estate agents, notaries, architects and other interested parties. In view of the ongoing debate around the sustainability and future of the residential prop- erty market, the bank invited Gordon Cordina, a consultant economist, to present the find- ings from a study he has just conducted on the recent per- formance of the residential real estate market in Malta. e study concluded that the increase in the residential real estate market turnover in 2018 appears to continue to be sup- ported by economic fundamen- tals, and that conditions are set for a continued, but possibly more moderate, increase in turnover in 2019 and 2020. e study also highlighted that the north harbour area, where the average price of property is twice the national average, accounted for 30% of total market turnover and 40% of its growth in 2018. On the other hand, the high- est rates of price growth and the highest relative growth in turno- ver were registered in the more affordable central areas. Cordina emphasised that investment in quality is key to market resil- ience, and that orderly evolution of the market is essential for its sustained growth. e event was also addressed by Daniel Robinson, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management for HSBC in Mal- ta. He went through a number of changes HSBC has made in recent months to continue supporting its customers and to make the home loan process faster than ever before. Robinson also spoke on the compelling fixed and variable rate propositions that the bank has launched in recent months and the other measures it has taken to train and develop its staff, and welcomed the recent publication of the Central Bank of Malta directive on mortgage lending. He said HSBC is in fa- vour of the directive as it will give lenders minimum specific guidelines for responsible lend- ing, and by doing so, it will pro- tect the future sustainability of the industry. HSBC bolsters home loan lending to support customers, industry Gordon Cordina (left) and Daniel Robinson APS Bank has announced new senior appointments in its Strategy & Market- ing team. HERVÉ Delpech, until recently Head of Strategy & Marketing, has been promot- ed to Chief Strategy Officer with overall responsibility for Strategy, Marketing and the newly added Business Transfor- mation Unit. Hervé, a French national with a M.Sc. in General Management from the London Business School, has over 20 years' experience in developing and implementing strategic marketing at senior levels with Barclays Bank, Wedg- wood, Al Suwaidi Group and Swarovski among others. ANGELE De Mesquita is the new Head of Business Transformation, reporting to Hervé. A Bachelor of Education (Com- puting and ICT) graduate from the Uni- versity of Malta and with certifications including CIPP/E and CIPM, Angele has over 11 years' industry experience at RS2 plc and NetRefer. Working with multiple clients across the globe she has done business systems analysis, project management, software implementa- tion, release and change management, gaining insight into different processes, methodologies and business cultures. EARLIER in the year David Darmanin joined the team as Business Process Re-Engineering Manager, after 22 years at Bank of Valletta. He brings extensive experience in Project Management, Business Process Management, Strategy Planning & Execution and Organisa- tional Development. He holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) specialising in Management Consulting from Grenoble Graduate School of Busi- ness and is a qualified PRINCE2 Profes- sional and CPP (Master). CEO Marcel Cassar said the appoint- ments and other reorganisation in the Bank's Strategy and Marketing teams confirmed the importance of its trans- formation journey. New appointments at APS Bank Left to right: David Darmanin, Hervé Delpech and Angele De Mesquita ITALY'S famous food franchise, Pas- trocchio will be opening its first res- taurant in Malta, next to Nespresso's customer care centre, at Notabile Road, Mriehel. Pastrocchio is a multi-func- tional space, serving all meals. Whether it's breakfast or brunch, fast meal or healthy food lunch, gourmet burger or mother yeast pizza, Pastroc- chio has a trustworthy reputation in the food industry to deliver excellence and enjoyable food and drinks. Pastrocchio will be joining DIZZ Group's portfolio of other world-re- nowned brands and franchises. At Pas- trocchio, food icons are a constant guar- antee. Whether it's just coffee, a bakery product, pastry, burger, pizza or beer and cocktails, Pastrocchio promises to deliver deliciousness at its very best. DIZZ Group CEO Diane Izzo said the group was proud top have, once again, brought a prestigious brand to Malta. "I have had the opportunity to visit various outlets of Pastrocchio in Italy and I was always impressed by the con- sistency, reliability and food quality of this brand. I'm sure that the opening of Pastrocchio in Malta will bring a new excitement to the local customers," she said. "We are opening our first restaurant in Mriehel now, another in Valletta early next year and a third one in Tigné. I'm sure that Pastrocchio will be a great suc- cess locally." Pastrocchio to open its first outlets in Malta

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