CEOs in the Spotlight: Expectations from HR in relation to L&D

Noel Debono is an FHRD board member and a Human Resources Manager at Attard & Co Food Limited.  He brings to the table over 17 years of Human Resources experience across multiple industries. His areas of expertise include management and leadership, human resource operations, learning and development, and workforce planning.

As a Human Resources Manager, Noel holds responsibility for all aspects of the HR function, ensuring a positive and productive work environment. He enjoys the challenge of single-handedly driving HR strategy and execution, ensuring a positive impact on both company culture and employee engagement.

With a degree in Computing and a Masters in Business Administration, Noel is also a certified Business Coach and a trainer.

Marcel Cassar is the CEO of APS Bank plc since 2016. His career started in 1987 with Price Waterhouse Malta followed by MIBA/MFSC, now the MFSA (1991-1996). He was General Manager at Lombard Bank Malta plc (1996-2004) and First Executive Vice President and CFO at FIMBank plc (2004-2015). He has served as Chairman of the Malta Bankers’ Association between 2018-2020, and again since 2022, leading to a seat on the board of the Brussels-based European Banking Federation (EBF). Marcel is a CPA, a fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants, and holds an MBA in Bank Financial Management jointly from the University of Wales and Manchester Business School (1995). He has lectured and examined at both FEMA and the MA Financial Services course, University of Malta, and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics related to financial services, banking policy, and management.

Passionate about leadership, sustainability, and driving meaningful change, Antonello Gauci is a dynamic and results-oriented leader with a proven track record in effective team management. With over twenty years of management experience and as a fellow of the Institute of Leadership (UK), Antonello brings a wealth of expertise to his roles. He has served as the CEO of the Inspire Foundation for the past 8 years, an NGO dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities and employing over 160 people. Additionally, he is an administrator of The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, The Ladybird Foundation, Dar il Hena Foundation, and the CORE Platform. Furthermore, he contributes his expertise to the sustainability committees of several companies, furthering the cause of responsible corporate practices.

Maria Magro holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Carmelo Abela Group, a prominent importer and distributor in the food industry. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants. With a Bachelor of Accountancy Honors degree and ongoing MBA studies at Henley, Maria’s career embodies a dedication to excellence and innovation in finance and business management.

Ms. Magro embarked on her career as an auditor, obtaining her accountant and auditor warrant. She then transitioned to an IT company for over a decade, primarily focusing on Business Process Reengineering and ERP systems implementation within the food distribution sector. This experience established her as an expert in the field.

Joining Carmelo Abela Group in 2013 as Financial Controller, Maria spearheaded innovative projects and optimized business processes, setting new efficiency standards. As CEO, she collaborates closely with directors to guide the company toward sustained growth

Pauline Micallef is an Accountant by profession, possessing both an ACCA qualification and a warrant as a CPA, and is also a Fellow Member of the Malta Institute of Accountants. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Henley Business School at the University of Reading.

With over a decade of managerial experience at Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd, the world’s largest generics pharmaceutical company, Pauline served as a Director and managed large teams through multimillion-dollar projects, including business development and SAP implementations. In addition to her managerial expertise, she is also a lecturer, conducting workshops in Financial Management and Microsoft Excel.

For the past 3 years, she has held the position of CEO at MaritimeMT, the leading maritime education school in Malta. Pauline leverages her vast experience in business management and education to lead and develop the organisation, helping to shape the next generation of maritime professionals.

Pauline represents MaritimeMT as a member of the Malta Chamber of SMEs and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, and since 2021 has been a committee member of the Malta Chamber of Commerce’s Yachting Services Business Section. Moreover, she has recently been elected as a council member of the Super Yacht Industry Network Malta and acts as the Treasurer.

Nikhil Patil is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in mergers & acquisitions, strategy, and operations in TMT industry. Currently Group CEO at GO plc, a quad-play communications operator in Malta & Cyprus. He is actively involved at Board level in Cablenet in Cyprus and BMITT in Malta, both of which are part of the GO Group. Before joining GO, Nikhil was responsible for the creation of Malta Properties Company p.l.c., today one of the largest publicly listed real estate companies in Malta, where he served as CEO until 2018. Prior to this, he held senior positions, with Interoute, EIT, Dubai Holdings, and Marakon Associates. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mumbai, India, a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from IMD, Switzerland. Mr. Patil is a Charter Financial Analyst (CFA).