Marketing director resigns

Jeffrey Cutajar has resigned from the post of Malta Tourism Authority's director of marketing in yet another high-profile departure from the authority.

Mr Cutajar decided to call it quits after he contested a decision to split the post he has been holding for a year and a half.

The MTA said last night it had just completed a detailed re-evaluation of the marketing and promotion directorate's functions and operations.

"On the basis of this re-evaluation, the MTA began to implement a number of changes within this core division, aimed at promoting improved efficiency, greater synergies and better overall effectiveness. However, a difference of opinion was registered between the MTA's management and the director marketing and promotion, Jeffrey Cutajar, with regard to the way forward. To this end, and by mutual consent, it was agreed that Mr Cutajar's contract be terminated, albeit with all contractual obligations being honoured by the authority," the MTA said.

It said Joseph Galea has been appointed marketing director with immediate effect.  

Sources said the MTA decided to divide the post occupied by Mr Cutajar into two - one position will deal with tour operators and source markets and in parallel another post will be created to assume the role of head of development to take care of the local administrative side, including coordination of segment leaders.

The marketing department will be run by Mr Galea, who is MTA director in Germany, a position he will also retain for the time being.

It is not known who will be given the other post.

When contacted, Mr Cutajar said his departure was by "mutual agreement", but he declined further comment for the time being.

Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association president Josef Formosa Gauci said he would like to have all the details on the case before commenting. Incidentally, the MHRA have a meeting lined up with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today.

Sources in the industry told The Times that several operators are disconcerted with the way Mr Cutajar has been indirectly shown the door.

"This is the most important post within MTA. We simply cannot have any more musical chairs," said an official in the industry, who preferred to remain unnamed.

It is the last in a chain of departures from the MTA.

The entire MTA board, save for chairman Sam Mifsud, resigned en bloc last month over a probe into how a draft of a confidential letter the chairman had planned to send to Brand Malta's Norwegian consultant Christian Sinding was leaked to the press. Romwald Lungaro Mifsud quit his post as chairman last August.