Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/747633
49 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2016 AXA PPP win at 2016 Health Insurance Awards PPP International, represented by Atlas Healthcare in Malta, was re- cently awarded the Best Individual International Private Medical In- surance at the 2016 Health Insur- ance Awards. "We are proud to be awarded Best Individual IPMI Provider at the 2016 Health Insurance Awards. This is testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of our teams around the globe," said Kevin Melton, Sales and Marketing Director. "We will, going forward, con- tinue to invest in our people and our global infrastructure. We are also dedicated to continuing innovation and broadening our distribution to ensure we meet the complex, demanding and ever changing needs of our internation- al customers and the growing net- work of global intermediaries who serve them. Thank you to every- one who voted for us and for your continued support - it is genuinely appreciated." AXA PPP International is part of the AXA Group, a global in- surance company with more than 103 million customers all over the world. For over 40 years, AXA has looked after the healthcare needs of millions of people living or working overseas, giving them ac- cess to medical treatment – wher- ever they are in the world. The demand for expatriate health insurance in Malta is in- creasing with a large number of clients who live international life- styles requiring these sophisti- cated products. Catherine Calleja, Atlas Healthcare Managing Direc- tor said "We are very pleased to be able to support our expatriate client base through the interna- tional AXA infrastructure. The expatriate product range is flexible and continuously evolving, offer- ing appropriately comprehensive levels of cover for clients living and working in various regions across the globe. The investment in the outstanding service offering has also paid off as evidenced by the recent awards." Atlas Healthcare Managing Director, Catherine Calleja and General Manager Claudine Gauci APS Bank appoints new CTO, management restructuring continues JONATHAN Caruana has been ap- pointed Chief Technology Officer at APS Bank as from November 1st, 2016, having previously served as Head of IT. This new position, which also includes responsibili- ties for Digital Development and the Administrative Support func- tions, forms part of a wider man- agement restructuring exercise started earlier this year and which is continuing. Caruana joined APS Bank in 1999 and served in various areas before moving to IT, being pro- moted to Information Systems Manager in 2008 and Head of Department in 2015. Throughout his career he has been involved in the management of several IT projects, most recently leading the successful implementation of a new core banking system. He has qualifications in banking, in- surance, holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Computing from the University of Greenwich (2009) and M.Sc. in Software Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire (2013). "Over the past 17 years I have grown from a mainstream banker to Business Analyst, Database and Software Developer, Solutions Manager, Project Leader, always at the deep-end of critical and im- portant projects. In my new role I hope to apply my diverse expe- rience to strengthen the Bank's infrastructure and improve the digital channels. Our strategy is to develop innovative solutions that will facilitate the creation of products and services to meet the needs of our customers," Caruana said. APS Bank's CEO Marcel Cassar said: "Jonathan has demonstrated competence, maturity and im- pressive organisational skills in the way he has managed progres- sively demanding projects on the Bank's technology agenda. He also brings energy and vision to his job. We wish Jonathan well on his promotion and are confident that his contribution will continue to be pivotal for the Bank's develop- ment." Patrick Dunne strikes a chord with Maltese business leaders ADDRESSING EY's 'The High Performing Board' on 20 Oc- tober, Patrick Dunne talked ef- fective board management, the agenda challenge, communica- tion and power. Mr.Dunne who was the keynote speaker stated that besides legislative updates, there are many other factors which can inf luence board per- formance. Context, composition, capabilities, culture and a num- ber of other things combine to create a distinctive situation for each board, all playing their part in helping or hindering success. Patrick Dunne is a member of the Financial Times NED club's advisory board and a tutor on the FT NXD certificate. His ex- ecutive experience includes 26 years in a variety of roles with 3i Group plc. Patrick is currently Chairman of Boardelta and of the Chartered Management In- stitute's Board of Companions. He is the author of three success- ful books and various articles on board performance. "I was really impressed by the quality and level of engagement of those attending the event. It was encouraging to hear their views and commitment to high performance and interesting to hear from Kevin Mallia the im- plications of new regulations. " - Patrick Dunne, Chair, EY Foun- dation. The event was led by Kevin Mallia, EY Malta Advisory Ex- ecutive Director, whose opening remarks focused on the new re- quirements for PIEs arising from the recently enacted EU Audit Legislation. Mr.Dunne later went on to discuss the patterns and characteristics which are endorsed by the more success- ful boardroom performers in the business industry. Purpose, Peo- ple and Process along with the decision making approach taken by a board which determines its success. "What is the point of the board?" was the kick starter question to the conference for which a number of Maltese di- rectors were present. "In the worst it is a muddled cocktail of strategic and operational focus that seldom has any consisten- cy", he stated. In conclusion high perform- ing boards need to connect and work well with the other bodies that they interact with and have real clarity about what the roles of the executives and non-execu- tives are and work well together in the intersection, for example on strategy. Homes Of Quality opens new Sliema office HOQ, a member of the Frank Salt Group of Companies has moved – a few doors along Tow- er Road, Sliema – to dedicated new premises. Officially opened this morn- ing by Malta's Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat, HOQ marks a new phase in its development. Dr Muscat made it quite clear that the demand for the quality properties that HOQ specializes in, is high. However, the sup- ply far from matches the many requests from, mainly, foreign buyers flocking to Malta from the EU and beyond. Mr Frank Salt and his son, Grahame Salt, Managing Di- rector of HOQ, are working to- wards satisfying this high end clientele while positioning the firm as the key connection be- tween buyers and sellers in this competitive market. The new office premises is a further step in this direction. Up until a few weeks ago, Homes of Quality, though a sep- arate entity, was located within the Sliema Branch of Frank Group of Companies. Today, it has its own offices reflecting a different concept in client rela- tions. An office finished and styled in state of the art interi- ors offering the best of discreet services for buyers and sellers of Malta's finest selection of high end properties. Grahame Salt, describes the new office as "providing a high end luxurious atmosphere in line with the qualities of the properties we manage." The in- tention is to create a welcom- ing space in which clients feel comfortable discussing their property investments in more private conditions. One of the noticeable features, once you walk past the beauti- fully illuminated translucent marble reception desk, flanked by raw concrete benches off- set by luxuriously upholstered cushions, is that there are no chairs at the desks of the prop- erty consultants. This is, of course, no oversight. Rather than having clients sit in a com- mon area within earshot of each other's business, they are shown into a boardroom with a massive screen to sift through properties under the expert guiding hand of their consultant. Further along, a comfortable, private liv- ing room provides clients with the individual and undivided attention of their consultant in a relaxed environment – with a fine tasting espresso coffee to set the mood. This new HOQ premises, Salt explains, falls squarely in line with the Groups' expanding scope - and they are, incidental- ly, on the lookout for more expe- rienced consultants to join this top brand team. This stretch of Tower Road, one of Malta's most prestigious addresses, houses three of Frank Salt's offices. "HOQ is a niche in its focus in that it aims to bring together excellent properties – these are not exclusively top price proper- ties as good properties at great value are also in high demand and therefore included in our books." Properties are individu- ally registered and highlighted through the vast range of mar- keting resources at the Compa- ny's disposal. From the Group's own monthly magazine Prop- erty News to property focus on the HOQ website which is ac- cessed internationally, to excel- lently produced dedicated single property brochures and a high presence on social media. The attention of highly expe- rienced property consultants, who know the market and its conditions, is the greatest asset to any client. In addition, HOQ consultants, including Grahame Salt himself, regularly present quality Malta properties at the most important property fairs all the way from Scandinavia to London and on to South Af- rica – you can be sure that once you register your property with HOQ, it will get the best and most niche marketing platform exposure possible. An excellent tone was set this morning. A fine selection of stakeholders in Malta's top level property market were enter- tained to a mid-morning recep- tion with confirmation of the direction of top property devel- opment by the Prime Minister accompanied by Minister Chris Cardona and Minister Manuel Mallia, and followed by inspira- tional words by Fr Stefan Frendo who blessed the premises and the hard work that the consult- ants and the smartly uniformed HOQ office staff put into the satisfaction of their clients' needs and aspirations. L-R: Minister Manuel Mallia, Frank Salt, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and economy minister Chris Cardona