New associate directors at KPMG
KPMG Malta, the local practice of the global professional services firm, has appointed five new associate directors within the audit function.
Noel Anastasi joined the firm in 1990 and manages the audits of various clients engaged in the retail, manufacturing, hospitality and construction sectors. Norbert Bugeja joined the accounting support department in 1989 as a trainee accountant.
He joined the audit department in 1995, where he serviced a number of local and international listed and non-listed clients operating in a variety of sectors ranging from manufacturing to hospitality to financial services. He is also involved in providing internal and external training on International Financial Reporting Standards as well as on audit-related matters.
Manuel Debono joined KPMG in 1992. Over the last 16 years, he has led a number of major audit assignments for the Malta office and has also worked for the firm's offices in Luxembourg, Ireland and Iceland. Currently, he services a number of multinational groups having their holding company domiciled in Malta and also various local subsidiaries of major international group of companies.
Darren Govus joined KPMG Malta in 1995 and is a registered auditor responsible for the management of the firm's financial services audit department. He is one of the firm's technical advisers in relation to interpretation of International Financial Reporting Standards. He was KPMG's representative as a senior manager within the firm's Europe, Middle East and Africa region, ensuring standardisation within KPMG practices.
Giles Schembri joined KPMG in 1994 and ever since has principally practised within the firm's audit department locally and overseas, mainly involved in hospitality, e-gaming, manufacturing, insurance and finance sectors as well as companies quoted on the Malta Stock Exchange.
MSA certifies for ISO
The Malta Standards Authority has already certified 13 organisations for ISO 9001. The MSA recently became the first certification body worldwide accredited by the UK Accreditation Services (UKAS) to the new MSA EN ISO/IEC 17021:2006 standard entitled "Conformity Assessment - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, for Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2001)". This means MSA Certification is the only Maltese certification body providing ISO 9001 certification.
MSA Certification also carries out certification against ISO 14001 - Environmental Management System.
Further information on certification may be obtained by contacting Francis Farrugia, e-mail address francis.p.farrugia@msa.org.mt.
Siemens wins order for trains
Wiener Linien of Vienna, Austria has ordered 15 metro trains from a consortium led by Siemens Transportation Systems (TS). The total order is worth more than €135 million. The lion's share of it - €94 million - will go to Siemens, while the remaining €41 million will be divided between consortium partners Bombardier (€26 million) and Elin EBG Traction (€15 million). Siemens will perform the engineering for the entire train and the construction of the car bodies and also supply the interior furnishings and part of the electrical equipment. The 15 metro trains will be built by Siemens in its Vienna plant. Shipment is scheduled for between May 2009 and May 2011.
The new metro trains designed for the Austrian capital are very energy efficient and environmentally friendly and can carry up to 900 passengers each. In Malta, Siemens and Midi plc are equal partners in a joint venture, Solutions and Infrastructure Services Ltd (SIS), providing telephony and broadband internet services as well as building technologies for the Tigné Point and Manoel Island projects.
Lemeridien.com relaunched
Le Méridien has launched a redesigned website for guests (www.lemeridien.com), offering a new perspective in arts, music, fashion, design and cuisine. The redesigned website offers a unique image-based navigation system, allowing guests to create personalised interaction. The website's homepage is a three-dimensional space which allows customers to navigate through the world of Le Méridien by selecting images associated with Le Méridien hotels, Lm100 members, brand initiatives and special offers. The site also offers more than 300 music and sound samples, crafted by French composer Henri Scars Struck, which play as customers navigate through the site, with background music appropriate to the time of day.
The Destination Canvas matches guests' personal interests with Le Méridien hotels and destinations, recommending destinations based on their input. Le Méridien brand, currently represented by approximately 120 properties in 52 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in November 2005. In Malta, it is represented by the Le Méridien St Julians.
KPMG Malta, the local practice of the global professional services firm, has appointed five new associate directors within the audit function.
Noel Anastasi joined the firm in 1990 and manages the audits of various clients engaged in the retail, manufacturing, hospitality and construction sectors. Norbert Bugeja joined the accounting support department in 1989 as a trainee accountant.
He joined the audit department in 1995, where he serviced a number of local and international listed and non-listed clients operating in a variety of sectors ranging from manufacturing to hospitality to financial services. He is also involved in providing internal and external training on International Financial Reporting Standards as well as on audit-related matters.
Manuel Debono joined KPMG in 1992. Over the last 16 years, he has led a number of major audit assignments for the Malta office and has also worked for the firm's offices in Luxembourg, Ireland and Iceland. Currently, he services a number of multinational groups having their holding company domiciled in Malta and also various local subsidiaries of major international group of companies.
Darren Govus joined KPMG Malta in 1995 and is a registered auditor responsible for the management of the firm's financial services audit department. He is one of the firm's technical advisers in relation to interpretation of International Financial Reporting Standards. He was KPMG's representative as a senior manager within the firm's Europe, Middle East and Africa region, ensuring standardisation within KPMG practices.
Giles Schembri joined KPMG in 1994 and ever since has principally practised within the firm's audit department locally and overseas, mainly involved in hospitality, e-gaming, manufacturing, insurance and finance sectors as well as companies quoted on the Malta Stock Exchange.
MSA certifies for ISO
The Malta Standards Authority has already certified 13 organisations for ISO 9001. The MSA recently became the first certification body worldwide accredited by the UK Accreditation Services (UKAS) to the new MSA EN ISO/IEC 17021:2006 standard entitled "Conformity Assessment - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, for Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2001)". This means MSA Certification is the only Maltese certification body providing ISO 9001 certification.
MSA Certification also carries out certification against ISO 14001 - Environmental Management System.
Further information on certification may be obtained by contacting Francis Farrugia, e-mail address francis.p.farrugia@msa.org.mt.
Siemens wins order for trains
Wiener Linien of Vienna, Austria has ordered 15 metro trains from a consortium led by Siemens Transportation Systems (TS). The total order is worth more than €135 million. The lion's share of it - €94 million - will go to Siemens, while the remaining €41 million will be divided between consortium partners Bombardier (€26 million) and Elin EBG Traction (€15 million). Siemens will perform the engineering for the entire train and the construction of the car bodies and also supply the interior furnishings and part of the electrical equipment. The 15 metro trains will be built by Siemens in its Vienna plant. Shipment is scheduled for between May 2009 and May 2011.
The new metro trains designed for the Austrian capital are very energy efficient and environmentally friendly and can carry up to 900 passengers each. In Malta, Siemens and Midi plc are equal partners in a joint venture, Solutions and Infrastructure Services Ltd (SIS), providing telephony and broadband internet services as well as building technologies for the Tigné Point and Manoel Island projects.
Lemeridien.com relaunched
Le Méridien has launched a redesigned website for guests (www.lemeridien.com), offering a new perspective in arts, music, fashion, design and cuisine. The redesigned website offers a unique image-based navigation system, allowing guests to create personalised interaction. The website's homepage is a three-dimensional space which allows customers to navigate through the world of Le Méridien by selecting images associated with Le Méridien hotels, Lm100 members, brand initiatives and special offers. The site also offers more than 300 music and sound samples, crafted by French composer Henri Scars Struck, which play as customers navigate through the site, with background music appropriate to the time of day.
The Destination Canvas matches guests' personal interests with Le Méridien hotels and destinations, recommending destinations based on their input. Le Méridien brand, currently represented by approximately 120 properties in 52 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in November 2005. In Malta, it is represented by the Le Méridien St Julians.