Deepak Padmanabhan is to be appointed chairman of GO plc, taking over from Sonny Portelli, who is stepping down.

It was recently announced that Mr Portelli will chair Air Malta.

Mr Padmanabha, an engineer by profession, has been a member of the GO board since 2006. He takes over as chairman on March 10.

He has 22 years of industry experience in telecommunications, including work on mergers and acquisitions, strategy and investments and value creation.

Mr Padmanabhan is the CEO of Emirates InternationalTelecommunications LLC, the Dubai-based joint venture between TECOM Investments and DIG that is the majority shareholder in GO plc through Emirates International Telecommunications (Malta) Limited. Mr Padmanabhan was responsible for developing the strategy and execution of Dubai's knowledge clusters (Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village and DuBiotech) and for leading the international development of TECOM Investment's business, from 2000 to 2006.

GO said he was pivotal in the initial establishment and launch of the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) and further led the acquisitions of stakes in Interoute, Tunisie Télécom, GO and Forthnet S.A.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Interoute Communications Holdings S.A., Tunisie Télécom and GO plc and sits as Director and Chairman on the Boards of Forthnet S.A. and SmartCity Malta respectively. Forthnet S.A. is a listed company on the Athens Stock Exchange.

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