Medserv has named Karl Bartolo as the designate CEO, planning a proposed three-year handover from incumbents Anthony Diacono and Anthony Duncan, who currently share the role.
“Now that the company is growing, the responsibility and duties are growing with it and we felt the necessity to split it. I will keep my role as the chairman of the board and, for now, as the CEO of the group. Mr Duncan will remain an executive director, whose main responsibility will be finance and compliance – an increasingly complex role,” he said.
The succession plan for the top job is only one of a number announced by the oil and gas company, whose heads were described recently by Mr Diacono himself as the “white-haired brigade”.
Mr Diacono said that the succession plan was finalised following input from consultants as well as senior management, over a period of time.
These changes will carry us through the next five to 10 years
“The end result may seem evident at the end of the day but it is always good to challenge assumptions,” he told The Business Observer.
“It will also ensure that what we are doing will be accepted by the most important element of the company: its management.”
Mr Bartolo has been with the group for years and, until recently, was the chief financial officer, although over the last few years he has been increasingly involved in the management of the company.
The three-year handover will give Mr Bartolo time to grow into the role as the group expands exponentially, making sure that it is a seamless experience. It will also give the group the opportunity to seek a new chief financial officer.
The group also announced other changes: chief operating officer Godwin Borg has also relinquished his post but will stay on as a consultant, enabling the company to tap into his considerable experience in Libya, as well as giving technical input. His post will be restructured to reflect the company’s growing international operations, boosted most recently by the acquisition of METS in the Emirates. He has also been appointed to the board.
There will now be regional managers, with Godfrey Attard looking after the Mediterranean (Cyprus, Egypt, Sicily and Portugal); Simon Lanzon looking after Malta and Libya with Mr Borg’s help; Gareth McMurray looking after the Middle East and the integration of METS and Medserv; and Chris Clark taking over international operations, with the company still waiting to hear about its bid for work in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as other markets.
“These changes will carry us through the next five to 10 years. Will Karl make me redundant? I will be pushing him as hard as I can to make sure he does, at least from the CEO function!” Mr Diacono smiled.
“Will I retain an active role within the company? If I am enjoying myself as much as I am today, I have absolutely no problem staying on as chairman, if the board will have me.”