Andy Gatesy, chairman and CEO of Toly Products, has been named vice-president of Competitive Malta.
The announcement was made after the annual general meeting by the president of the foundation, Margrith Lutschg-Emmeneger, Fim-bank plc president.
In accordance with the foundation's statute, he will succeed Ms Lutschg-Emmeneger as president in November.
Competitive Malta has also appointed Adrian Hillman, executive director of Allied Newspapers and managing director of Progress Press, as designate vice-president.
Mr Gatesy's appointment as chairman and CEO of the Toly Group in 1991 resulted in a strong drive towards globalisation coupled with investment in new technology and manufacturing processes.
Ms Lutschg-Emmenger stressed that Toly truly symbolises success and competitiveness and that Malta has much to learn from successful individuals as Mr Gatesy.
"His role as vice president puts the foundation in a stronger position to highlight the main issues that still need to be addressed, in relation to Malta's competitiveness especially in the light of the positive results being achieved by other small nations in the EU."
"Mr Hillman also brings significant experience to the Foundation and in particular in the area of communications and the media. For the past years, Mr Hillman has been responsible for business development at Allied Newspapers."
Competitive Malta is a non-profit, non-partisan policy action group that sets an action agenda to drive Malta's competitiveness in the major economic sectors of the economy. The foundation focuses on defining and promoting the smart use of the island's natural, human and heritage resources as an engine to national competitiveness.
As a partner institute of the World Economic Forum, the foundation engages in benchmarking national economic performance in a global economy. Membership consists of 25 CEOs from some of Malta's most successful organisations.
The foundation's other executives include Adrian Said, director of EMCS, who is chief co-ordinator, Simon Coombs, a former Conservative politician and member of the House of Commons, policy co-ordinator, and Franco Aloisio, director of Communications, Go strategy co-ordinator.
The foundation's main sponsors are Bank of Valletta, Go and Fimbank.