As is typical for me to write any prose on a Saturday afternoon in the quiet of the office, here I am dropping these few lines to introduce this issue 4 of the Express Link. In issue 3, I spoke about the importance I give to the currency of the much-discussed ESG (business focus on the environment, on society and on governance).
I have been an avid student, follower, and practitioner of what I used to call the 3P’s, standing for ‘sustainable Profit while respecting People and protecting the Planet’. Intrinsically it is capturing the same objectives as ESG, lest I must admit, my acronym and what it stands for strikes a better pitch in my view. Well, with that twist of the tongue put, I have some updates to share with you in this issue which articulate further our strategic initiatives addressing ESG, which I hope you will find interesting.
The last quarter of the year that we went through was, as always, a fast-paced one ending with the business plan cycle which typically follows the annual shareholders’ meeting (AGM). It has been the tradition at these meetings to showcase to the investors the situation and results achieved by management. Today the company has 25 shareholders, all descendants of the late Emanuel Vella, who was the ignition spark 60 years ago of this group we know today. A lot of work is typically put in by management at the AGM presenting the investors with strong visuals that explain the economic, social, and performance dynamics.
Then comes the business plan cycle, a fast-paced marathon of a team of 25 managers and Heads, towards the final sprint home of getting board approval. Now we all know how we changed our confidence in our perceived ability in predicting the future in such business plans, especially after the pandemic. It hit us where it hurts and brought us to our senses that forecasting is like playing God or an Oracle in Greek mythology. No guarantees can ever be given.
All happening in this quarter we also go through implementing changes in our hierarchy of people and management. After a lot of thought, evaluations and appraising of my team, and after having articulated my reasoning to our RemCom (remuneration committee which is a board committee), I have pleasure in announcing the promotion and admission of a new member to my Management team and the promotion of another to the C-suite.
Jesmond Mifsud has been our senior manager in Sales and has been working with us since 1991 going into his 32nd year. Jesmond is a qualified logistician having read and passed with Distinction the University of Malta three-year Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transportation. He is also a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He also passed his examinations for the IATA diploma. Jesmond has as from 1st January been promoted to Head of Sales and admitted to my ManCom (management committee) which is the group of Heads and top managers driving the business plan corporatewide.
The other announcement I wish to share with you is the promotion of David Fleri Soler to Chief Commercial Officer. David has been with the group since 1987, that is 35 years, after having spent another 5 years before joining us with another leading logistics company at the time. David grew in logistics and excelled at leading the group through various milestones in its lifecycle. David is also a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is at present the elected Chairperson of the logistics section of the Chamber of Commerce in Malta. His principal achievement in that position so far was the admission of the sector to be the associate member of FIATA representing Malta. I have worked closely with David as the previous Head of Sales and Business Development, and I look forward to even more strategic planning in his new position in the C-suite.
All towards better ESG initiatives… stay tuned.
Read The Express Link 4 here:
