George Vella, a director of Grant Thornton’s business advisory arm, has been named president of the Malta Business Bureau, succeeding John Huber who has held the post for two years.

Mr Vella has more than 17 years’ experience in corporate and project finance, research and development, and strategic and project management.

He has worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Malta and the UK, the Corinthia Group locally and in Budapest, and APS Bank.

At Grant Thornton, Mr Vella leads a team of consultants providing financial control, internal audit, evaluation services, assistance in the preparation of business plans, feasibility studies and cost benefit analyses, business valuations, assistance with mergers and acquisitions, project finance and corporate finance advisory services. Its offering is designed for a range of private sector and public sector organisations.

A certified public accountant and certified information systems auditor, Mr Vella is an associate of the Malta Institute of Accountants. He holds an MBA.

Mr Vella said his objectives were to “gear the MBB tooffer more tangible support to businesses”.

The organisation will seek to become more efficient in its consultation efforts to be in a better position to safeguard theinterests of local businesses at a European level.

Mr Huber remains a member of the MBB’s board of trustees.