John Camilleri, who for 14 years was  private secretary to former prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami - 10 years as leader of the Opposition and four years as prime minister - passed away last night, aged 67.

He was CEO of the Employment and Training Corporation between 1999 and 2005, when he took up a post in Brussels as personal assistant to European Commissioner Joe Borg.

In October 2006, he was appointed chairman of the PBS editorial board, a position he gave up 10 months later when the board's decision to leave out a number of programmes, including Bondiplus, from the station's winter schedule, was overruled.

"My principles are not for sale," he had said.

In 1975, he was elected the Nationalist Party's first organisation secretary, a position he held until 1987.

Between 1992 and 1997, he was an executive director of AZAD and between 1995 and 1996 Telemalta chairman.

Mr Camilleri was a director of several government entities including the Freeport and Maltacom. He was also deputy chairman at Mid-Med Bank. He served as president of the Floriana football club.

He was born in Floriana and lived in Birkirkara. He was married to Mary Galea and they had three children.

The Nationalist Party and the Floriana Football Club expressed condolences with his family.