Melita Group has appointed Stuart Williamson chief financial officer with effect from last Friday. He replaces Michael Maltby who is to pursue other opportunities.

Mr Williamson has worked in and around the telecommunications industry since qualifying as a chartered accountant in the UK with Coopers and Lybrand Associates in 1990. He has led finance functions with a wide variety of businesses ranging from early-stage mobile network roll-outs in Asia to venture capital-backed internet services in Europe.

He is now returning to Europe after five years in New Zealand where he led operational restructuring projects with both of the country’s largest telecommunications businesses. Before New Zealand, Mr Williamson’s career took him to various countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the Philippines where he worked with established brands Vodafone and Cable & Wireless and less well-known smaller ventures.

In two years with Melita Group, Mr Maltby played an instrumental role particularly through the significant financial restructuring work with the group’s financing partners.

Chief executive officer Andrei Torriani personally thanked Michael Maltby for his contribution to Melita’s success. He added Mr Williamson brought a wealth of worldwide experience in the telecommunications market to his new role and expressed confidence that with the rest of management team, Melita would continue to deliver further positive results.