The national agency for cultural heritage will be changing its CEO for the third time since its inception in 2003 after Lucio Mulè Stagno "agreed" with the board of directors that he should step down for the good of Heritage Malta.

Culture Minister Dolores Cristina confirmed the board did not feel the ex-CEO had the vision and qualities to implement the change necessary.

While admitting to a strained relationship with the board, Dr Mulè Stagno "diplomatically" boiled it down to "different management style and direction".

He refrained from specifying where these differences lay, unwilling to be critical of the existing board and saying that "ultimately, we wanted the same thing, but had different ideas how to achieve it".

Dr Mulè Stagno explained he had been accepted for the job by one board, but that changed when new directors were appointed, bringing new ideas.

The termination of his contract before his term was up at the end of the year was a "friendly departure", he said, denying a damning report in a Sunday Maltese paper saying he was asked to leave and the agency had regressed under his helm for three years.

"We decided this relationship was not ideal and it, therefore, made sense to do this now so the agency can continue to forge ahead," he calmly told The Times.

"Things did not work out as planned and we decided to part ways and move on."

Dr Mulè Stagno admitted to the "unfortunate" exodus of employees from Heritage Malta, which was pointed out in the Sunday newspaper and attributed to him.

Heritage Malta required more stability, he noted, listing a change in three chairmen, going on to the third CEO. But this was the fault of circumstances and not the agency per se, he insisted.

Its merger with the Malta Centre of Restoration in 2005 was not a simple procedure and Dr Mulè Stagno said he had had to deal with its after effects and the fact that things would take a while to fall into place.

He also cited the general election, which always caused an element of uncertainty with a new administration and the appointment of another board, as one of the reasons for Heritage Malta's instability.

The scathing article on Dr Mulè Stagno's performance, saying he was asked to leave, was denied by the former CEO, whose plans to be "low key" about the ordeal and exit in a "quiet and orderly fashion" for the good of the agency were foiled.

He denied he had been offered a position at the university and said that, while he was doing some consultancy, he was exploring various job possibilities.

"I was not kicked out of my office," he said, pointing out that the staff had organised a farewell party. But the "lie" that irked him most was that the agency did not accomplish much. Dr Mulè Stagno listed the €10 million in EU funding secured for three sites and a further €500,000 for educational programmes. It was awaiting replies on financing for other educational and IT projects, he said.

The War Museum may have taken 15 months to close and reopen, but the deadline of six, established by those involved, was "highly unrealistic", especially when compared to the five to 10 years normally required to carry out the job in the past, he maintained.

"When I got it going, it was completed in practically less than a year," he said, highlighting the "unfair criticism".

Asked where this change would be leaving Heritage Malta, which has seen several unsettling moves, Ms Cristina acknowledged it had been through some difficult times since its inception: "It is a high-profile agency, with a crucial role, particularly now that our cultural heritage more than ever needs effective management and long-term planning where preservation and conservation are concerned."

However, she added that "the board I appointed last year is very clear on where the agency needs to go to achieve these aims. In fact, Frank Mifsud was brought in as change manager in March, having a supporting role to the CEO."

The minister clarified that a call for the post would be issued shortly.