Victor Carachi has taken over as the new president of the General Workers' Union.

Mr Carachi, who was appointed president designate of the union during the GWU's national conference last October, succeeds Salv Sammut, who reached retirement aged.

Mr Carachi's appointment is effective as from yesterday.

Mr Carachi started working in trade unionism with the GWU in 1995 when he was appointed shop steward and union delegate for Mid-Med Bank clerks.

He also served as president of the HSBC Group Committee and vice-president and member of the executive of the Services and Media Section of the GWU.

He joined Mid-Med Bank in 1978 as a clerk and after two years he embarked on a career in information technology qualifying as a Chartered IT Professional with the British Computer Society. He possesses a Masters in Business Administration from Henley Management College of London.

Mr Carachi has held various managerial posts in the informatics industry. Recently he worked as a senior manager in audit at HSBC's Compliance and Operational Risk Department.

His hobbies are football, films and documentaries and he keeps abreast of local and international politics.

The GWU saluted Mr Sammut for his long service with the union and thanked him for his contribution in the area of workers' health and safety.

Mr Sammut was the GWU's representative on the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.