Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 10 COMMERCIAL 2023 sees 151 BOV employees graduate BANK of Valletta celebrated with its people during a for- mal Graduation event that was attended by the Bank's senior management, including Chair- man Dr Gordon Cordina and CEO Kenneth Farrugia. Aptly named Proud of Our People, the event was the culmination of a year of online and in-person training programmes driven by the Bank's Learning and Devel- opment Centre. The evening saw 151 employees graduating in a broad spectrum of awards and qualifications, all of which are recognized by the Malta Further & Higher Education Authority and are qualified under the Mal- tese Qualified Framework in MQF Levels 5 and 6. In his brief opening address, Dr Gordon Cordina expressed his delight at witnessing the breath of learning opportu- nities made available by the Bank, both in-person as well as through the self-learning plat- form, and the keen response of its people, with several courses being overbooked within days or even hours of being launched. He went on to explain that "providing training is only one important facet of our people's development. There is also a collective responsibility among senior management and team leads to ensure that our people are finding their jobs challeng- ing and rewarding, whilst we ap- proach learning with humility, grateful for the opportunities to improve ourselves and generous in sharing our knowledge with our peers." Speaking during the event, Kenneth Farrugia explained that the Bank recognizes the sacrifice put in by its people to pursue their studies while work- ing full-time. In addition to the 1,100 employees who attended in-house courses, over 700 em- ployees have attended or are attending external courses and reading for different qualifica- tions during 2023. "As a Bank that aspires to be the Employer of Choice, we understand that our biggest asset is human capi- tal. In a bid to truly be a learning organisation, we choose to in- vest in our people, through var- ious initiatives including study grants, with 2023 seeing over 100 applications approved." In addition, the Bank supports its people through both study loans and study leave. Referring to the Bank's customer-driven strate- gy, Mr Farrugia emphasized that the Bank's strategy hinges on its people, who are the fulcrum of its drive in various fields, includ- ing business, risk management and governance, as well as its op- erations and support functions." Ray Debattista, Chief Peo- ple and Culture Officer, also addressed the new graduates, outlining the different initia- tives undertaken by the Bank to strengthen its position as the Employer of Choice, through investment in technology as this year saw the Bank launching a new interactive online learning platform, and designing new courses in response to market needs, including a brand new onboarding programme. He al- so mentioned the Bank's suite of benefits, both financial such as the Bank's voluntary occu- pational pension scheme and non-financial like the differ- ent family-friendly measures in place, and the Bank's Brain Waves programme that encour- ages people from across the or- ganisation to put forward their recommendations and rewards them. During the brief event, every employee present received a commemorative certificate. This was followed by a toast led by Dr Tania Camilleri from the Learning & Development team. A small reception for graduates and management followed. Malta-based Booming Games partners with Brazilian football wizard Ronaldinho Gaúcho MALTA-BASED leading games supplier, Booming Games, a leading games supplier, has secured a landmark partner- ship with Brazilian football superstar Ronaldinho Gaúcho, which marks an exciting de- velopment for the gaming and sports world. Known as The Magician for his wizardry on the pitch, Ronaldinho brings his global prestige to this venture, which will see Booming Games roll out premium slot content fea- turing this legendary footballer. Following strategic planning, the company is poised to launch an exciting series of games, with the initial offering set for early next year. This move not only solidifies Booming Games' competitive advantage but also reshapes the gaming landscape, blending Ronaldinho's iconic aura with innovative gaming solutions. Roberto de Assis Morei- ra, manager and brother of Ronaldinho, said: "Ronaldinho is thrilled to join forces with Booming Games. This part- nership transcends mere image use; it's about embedding the thrill and passion of Ronald- inho's legacy into the gaming experience. Partnering with Booming Games is an excel- lent choice. The company's top-notch game development, worldwide distribution, and committed team make it an ideal collaboration." Booming Games, which is headquartered in Birkirkara, holds the prestigious Malta Gaming Authority B2B suppli- er licence, a testament of com- mitment to excellence in the industry. Ronaldinho's illustrious ca- reer is studded with accolades, including winning the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, as well as being awarded FIFA World Player of the Year, UEFA Foot- ball Player of the Year, and, in 2005, the Ballon d'Or. He is not only a football su- perstar, but also a businessman, music producer, and media in- fluencer with an impressive following exceeding 170 mil- lion across various channels. Ronaldinho's unparalleled lega- cy in top-tier football clubs now extends to the gaming realm, adding a touch of star quality to Booming Games' offerings. Booming Games CEO Max Niehusen said: "This is a crucial moment for Booming Games as we announce our ground- breaking collaboration with the legendary Ronaldinho Gaúcho. It's like scoring a game-winning goal, a strategic step that puts us into a league of our own. This collaboration expands our global footprint and brand visi- bility, promising significant im- pacts across the industry." Frederik Niehusen, CCO at Booming Games, added: "In- tegrating Ronaldinho's image into our games isn't just a fea- ture; it's a revolution in gaming. It heightens the excitement for players and is crucial for our expansion not only in Latin America but globally. Ronald- inho is a global superstar." Nestlé's Purina announces Agrimed Ltd as new distributor during debut veterinary event in Malta NESTLÉ'S Purina, a global brand in pet care, announced its new partnership with Agrimed Malta Ltd during its inaugural Veteri- nary Event in Malta. The event served as an opportune platform for Purina to introduce Agrimed as its official distributor for the Veterinary Channel, focusing on the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets range. Held at The Westin Dragonara Resort Hotel, Purina's Veterinary Event marked a milestone for the brand's presence in Malta, fos- tering connections with the lo- cal Veterinary Doctors & Nurses Community. The event show- cased the specialized Purina PRO PLAN Veterinary Diets range, emphasising its unique features and functionalities tailored to ad- dress specific conditions in cats and dogs. Purina looks forward to a fruit- ful collaboration with Agrimed Ltd, aimed at furthering the col- lective goal of supporting pet owners in nurturing their beloved animals through the power of sci- ence-based nutrition. Purina is part of Nestlé, a glob- al leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information about Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, visit www.Nestlé.com.mt/ brands/petcare and Agrimed Mal- ta Ltd at www.agrimedmalta.com