Mr Josef Formosa Gauci will take office by June 2008

NEW CEO FOR THE MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY

The board of the Malta Tourism Authority on Wednesday unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Josef Formosa Gauci as the new chief executive of the MTA.   Mr. Formosa Gauci, 40, will be assuming the responsibilities of CEO within the next few weeks.

Educated at De La Salle College (Malta) and Stonyhurst College (UK) as well as obtaining a BA (Hons.) Economics degree from Nottingham University, Josef Formosa Gauci began his career with the renowned firm Price Waterhouse in London then in Malta, in the Audit and Business Services Department.  He is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ACA), and a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants (FIA).  In 1997 Mr. Formosa Gauci joined the Galaxy Hotel, becoming General Manager in 1999. In November 2004 he joined the Farsons Group in the position of General Manager of Trident Developments Ltd., which company is responsible for the property portfolio of the Group.  Josef Formosa Gauci was a council member of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) from 2002-2004, the association's vice-president from 2005 - 2006 and, as of November 2006, president of the MHRA.  Mr. Formosa Gauci has been a member of the Malta Tourism Authority's board of directors during his tenure as MHRA president, as well as being a member of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).