James Satariano, chairman of the Institute of Directors Malta (IoD) branch, has been invited by IoD director general Simon Walker to attend a special gathering of European chairmen at this year’s IoD annual convention in London on April 25.
This will be the first annual convention hosted by Mr Walker since taking over as director general in October last year and it will attract over 1,000 delegates. Mr Satariano is also to meet David Buckle, commercial director, to discuss business development opportunities.
Buddi founder Sara Murray, Linked In Europe managing director Ariel Eckstein, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games chief executive Paul Deighton and top investor and turnaround specialist Jon Moulton will be speaking at the conference.
They will address members alongside other confirmed names including Saatchi and Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts, Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh, former BP chief executive Lord Browne and two former Olympians turned entrepreneurs, Roger Black and Steve Backley.
One very topical speaker will be Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond. People in Scotland have two years to make up their minds over the arguments for and against independence. With the referendum not taking place until 2014, the independence debate has the potential to be the longest and the perhaps the most divisive political campaign in the history of Scotland.
Mr Salmond chose to unveil the question that he hopes to put to the Scottish people in the autumn of 2014, on a date sure to inspire an outpouring of nationalist fervour: the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, in which the Scots defeated the English.
Concerns about the break-up of the UK and the economic impact of the uncertainty until the vote will be issues that IoD delegates will be following closely.
Mr Satariano said: “Time and money are precious things for businesses, especially in a tough economic climate. The annual convention is the jewel in the IoD crown and I look forward to representing Malta’s directors at this business-critical event.
“After the exposure that Malta recently enjoyed in London thanks to High Commissioner Joseph Zammit Tabona’s initiative at Harrods, there is renewed interest in the country as a financial jurisdiction, regional hub and tourism destination. We must build on this momentum quickly to sustain that.”