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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 2015 17 Events YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Red Electrick at Academy 32 and on radio station in Cyprus Emirates cabin crew now 20,000 strong THIS month, Emirates celebrates a milestone in its employee history, with its cabin crew team now crossing 20,000 staff. Instantly recognizable all around the world, Emirates cabin crew is a vibrant group that com- prises over 135 nation- alities that speak over 55 languages. Reflective of the cosmopolitan DNA of Dubai, the multi-cul- tural mix is also core to the personality of Emir- ates and its crew. The growth of the cabin crew team has been steadily increasing in line with the arrival of new aircraft, and new routes being added to the network. This year, Emirates expects to hire over 5,000 new cabin crew. "Our cabin crew are our greatest brand am- bassadors. They interact daily with our customers at 35,000 feet in the air, and also at major exhibitions and events around the world where Emirates has a pres- ence. From the safety and security of our customers onboard, to looking after their well-being and delivering a memorable flight and brand expe- rience, our cabin crew truly embody what we stand for at Emirates. Now at 20,000 cabin crew, we have come a long way in a short span of time, and we are proud to celebrate this mile- stone with our talented and passion- ate team," said Terry Daly, Divisional Senior Vice President – Service Deliv- ery, Emirates. Emirates offers its crew diverse fu- ture prospects within a truly global company. There are many opportuni- ties for progression within the airline as well as being promoted through the cabin crew ranks. Many crew progress from Economy Class to Business Class in less than 18 months and others who stay on have become Pursers or cabin crew leaders onboard in around five to six years. Emirates' cabin crew often come from other professions and have op- portunities to move to other depart- ments as well. From accountants, economists, medics, and musicians for example, Emirates' cabin crew community brings together diverse skills and different perspectives to the company. Cabin crew are offered an entire employment package, which includes free of charge high standard, shared accommodation in Dubai, free ac- commodation utilities such as wa- ter and electricity, free transport to/ from work, free insurance, medical and dental cover, as well as exclusive discounts on shopping and leisure activities in Dubai. For many of Emir- ates' cabin crew team, the company's attractive concessional travel benefits for themselves as well as their families and friends, is a big boon - particularly as Emirates' growing global network offer many travel opportunities to over 140 destinations across 6 conti- nents. For more information on how to join Emirates' cabin crew team, please visit - http://www.emiratesgroupcareers. com/ Emirates currently operates daily scheduled flights between Malta and Dubai via Larnaka, Cyprus. New Directors appointed at GlobalCapital p.l.c. THE Board of Directors of Global- Capital p.l.c. has appointed, subject to regulatory clearance, Joseph C. Schembri and Mario P. Galea as non- executive directors of the Company. Schembri will also act as the Chair- man of the Company's Audit Com- mittee while Mr Galea will act as a member of the Committee. Schembri is a fellow of the Char- tered and Certified Accountants in UK (FCCA) and a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants. His audit experience spans across a number of industries including banking, insur- ance, IT and funds. He was Senior Partner of KPMG Malta until September 2012 and acted as audit engagement leader of KPMG and risk management principal for the Libyan firm of KPMG until 2014. Today, he serves as consultant and audit engagement leader of Baker Tilly Sant. Mario P. Galea was the founder, Managing Partner and Chairman of Ernst & Young Malta until he retired in 2012. Galea is a certified public ac- countant and auditor, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants. He has served as President of the Malta Institute of Accountants and held various other positions in the Institute, Federation des Comptables Européens (FEE) and the Account- ancy Board. He currently serves on a number of boards of directors, finance committees and audit committees in various positions including on the board of Mediterranean Investment Holdings p.l.c. and Santumas Share- holdings p.l.c. Galea has provided audit and profes- sional advice to clients in various sec- tors including the public sector, bank- ing, insurance and commerce. The Board of Directors has also ac- cepted the resignation of Moussa I. Rawat from the office of Director and Deputy Chairman of the Company with immediate effect. Rawat is also stepping down from the post of direc- tor on the Company's ubsidiaries. GlobalCapital wishes to reassure all its customers that it remains at their disposal for any information they may require via telephone number 21342342 and email info@globalcapi- tal.com.mt. GlobalCapital Life Insurance Limit- ed is authorised to transact Long Term Insurance Business and is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Au- thority (MFSA). GlobalCapital Health Insurance Agency Limited acts as an insurance agent and is regulated by the MFSA. Registered address: Glo- balCapital, Testaferrata Street, Ta' Xbiex XBX 1403, Malta. Company Registration No. C29086. Middlesea Insurance reports remarkable increase in growth and market share MIDDLESEA Insurance p.l.c. held its 34th Annual General Meet- ing (AGM) on the 24 April at the Radisson Blu Resort. Around 300 shareholders attended the meet- ing, during which the results of the Group were highlighted. In his address, Middlesea's Chair- man Martin Galea, said, "2014 has proved to be a satisfactory year for the Middlesea Group." With refer- ence to the local insurance market he said that it has seen an increase of 7%, "it is with much pride that I can report that Middlesea has out- performed this growth by double, whilst in the life market MSV Life p.l.c. has essentially taken up all the market growth in 2014." Galea emphasised the company's commitment to its customers and shareholders. "It is incumbent on us to ensure that we provide relevant, innovative and competitive insur- ance cover for our clients. "We must invest to ensure that we can provide the best service to our customers, that we manage risk which remains our core skill, and that we can then provide an ade- quate return for our shareholders." He added that the Board of Direc- tors has decided to maintain the dividend payout to the same level as the previous year, at about 82% of the current year's profit after tax. Galea expressed his pride in Mid- dlesea's skilled workforce, who con- stantly rise to the challenges pre- sented to them and implement the company's policies diligently. He al- so spoke of the company's ongoing investment in IT processes, ref lect- ing the company's commitment to be at the forefront of change, whilst maintaining the highest levels of security and integrity of data. In his speech, Galea also re- ferred to the resolution put for the shareholders' approval to change the name of the company to Map- fre Middlesea p.l.c. to ref lect the changes the company is undergoing and its identity as part of the global enterprise. This move will capitalise on the brand name of such a global com- pany which is represented in 46 countries and which generated €26.37 billion in revenue in 2014. He also mentioned Bank of Valletta p.l.c as a committed shareholder and partner in the group, which also contributed to the Group's suc- cess, with whom the relationship remains close. The Annual General Meeting was also addressed by Alfredo Munoz Perez, President and CEO of Mid- dlesea Insurance. He explained that in terms of premium written growth, 2014 was an excellent year with both Life business generated by MSV Life p.l.c and General Busi- ness, growing at double digit rates and reaching the highest levels in the group's history. "Retention rates are still very high and clients' perceptions are very good overall as shown in surveys carried out." Munoz expressed his optimism for new and increased opportuni- ties in the local market. "We still face significant issues, such as the increased competition and low rates in some classes of insurance. However economic growth and improved standard of living and lifestyles in Malta will bring new chances to those who will be ready to accept the challenge, invest and innovate." Munoz informed the shareholders that the gross premiums for Gen- eral Business increased by 12.9%, the number of policies written in- creased by more than 14%, the To- tal Assets of the Group increased by 13%, the technical account balance improved by 55% whilst allocated investment income increased by 31%. With regards to long-term busi- ness, investment income had a record year with high fair value movements reaching in total Eur119 million (21% more than in the al- ready successful year 2013). It was also a positive year for the Group's subsidiaries Bee Insurance Man- agement and Middlesea Assist Ltd. The shareholders approved all the resolutions of the meeting includ- ing financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the change of the company's name to Mapfre Middlesea p.l.c. Charles Borg, Antoinette Caruana, John Cassar White, David G. Curmi, Javier Fernández-Cid, Martin Galea, Pedro López Solanes, Paul Testafer- rata Moroni Viani and Joseph F.X. Zahra were appointed as directors on the Board of Directors. Further information on the Group's financial results can be ob- tained from Middlesea Insurance's website www.middlesea.com. WHILE spending some creative moments in Cyprus, the band Red Electrick were invited to perform an unplugged session at Academy 32 bar, a wine-music-art bar which is an extension of Cyprus Academy of Music in Nicosia. They will be having a live interview and play- ing a couple of unplugged songs on 90.8 Sunshine Radio, a British radio station based in Paphos. "The gig at Academy 32 went re- ally well. We had an attentive and receptive crowd and from a slot of 40 minutes, we ended up playing for well over an hour. In our rep- ertoire, we included 'Xemx lilek inħobbok' which added a bit more of a Maltese touch, as well as hits like Paul, Young Again, Runaway, Who the heck is REK? We really had fun," said Red Electrick's lead guitarist Peter Borg. "We are well looked after here in Cyprus. It is really a great place to visit. We are staying in one of Cy- prus Villages traditional houses with a cool courtyard and lovely views of Tochni village. Our host Sofronis Potamitis has helped us with tips of where to go and what to do. Wherever we go, we are meet- ing friendly locals. And when they get to know that we're a band, very often we are ending up playing a short gig to an impromptu crowd," said the band's bassist Ivan Borg. "Yesterday the Cyprus Tourism Organisation organised a guided tour for us to the Troodos region. We had a great day out enjoying the nature and stillness of the sur- rounding typical villages," said the band's drummer Robert Spiteri. "The panoramas from the Troo- dos are awesome, and we stopped at some interesting places along the way, like Omodos village, Tz- ielefos bridge and Kalopanayiotis village." Cyprus national broadcasting station, CYBC, also showed an interest in the Maltese band and will be interviewing the band. Red Electrick is also attracting substantial media coverage on the Cypriot media. Enjoying Cyprus - the band Red Electrick