Austrian chairman appointed to MIA

The board of the Malta International Airport, meeting for the first time more than two months after it was appointed, has named Austrian Michael Hoeferer as its new chairman.

Mr Hoeferer succeeds Lawrence Zammit. It is the first time a foreigner has been made chairman of the MIA.

The appointment comes after the government had warned it might review an agreement to rotate the company's chairman between a Maltese and an Austrian, following a dispute over the allocation of a concession at the airport.

The government has 40 per cent shareholding in the company. Another 40 per cent of the shares are owned by Malta Mediterranean Link Consortium Ltd., whose main shareholder is Vienna International Airport. The rest are publicly owned.

The MIA had been without a chairman since the resignation of Mr Zammit last June when he was appointed chairman of Air Malta.

Government Investments Minister Austin Gatt last month warned the MIA's board that the government would review an agreement to rotate the company's chairman between the two major shareholders "if it considers that ethical principles no longer motivate the management of MIA".

The warning was in reaction to the award of an airport concession to Franks Travel Retail Limited and the exclusion of the current occupant, Salvo Grima Group of Companies.

Sources close to MIA said yesterday the government approved the appointment of Mr Hoeferer after it had been reassured that positive developments were expected to resolve the controversy.

Last week the controversy took a new turn when it was reported that the lawyers of Collis Williams, another company invited to make an offer for the skin care and cosmetic shop at the airport, had written to the MIA directors insisting that their own offer was the best, both financially and in terms of a guaranteed standard of service and support.

The MIA yesterday said that Mr Hoeferer was well acquainted with Malta and was proud to be heading an organisation which is pivotal to the island's economy. While aware of the challenges ahead, particularly in view of Malta's forthcoming EU membership, Mr Hoeferer felt confident that he would seize all opportunities to steer MIA into continued success.

Mr Hoeferer was born in 1959 and is a graduate in economics, history and public relations. He has served in several posts with Austrian Airlines, including vice president of operations.

He has also been the chief executive officer of the Austrian National Tourist Organisation, president of the Alpine Tourist Commission covering Bavaria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Southern Tyrol and Austria, and has served on the board of the European Travel Commission, the board of directors of Austrian Travel Agents and Tour Operators as well as the advisory board of Austrian Airlines.

In 2000 he transferred to Libro AG as managing director retail. He then joined Flughafen Wien where he was appointed senior executive vice president for airline and terminal services.

In July 2002 he was appointed managing director of the Vienna International Beteilungsmanagement Gesellschaft mbh (the Vienna International Holdings Co.), as well as chairman of the Malta Mediterranean Link Consortium Ltd. which is the holding company of the investment in Malta International Airport plc.

In January 2003 he also became the representative of Vienna International Airport on the board of directors of Schedule Coordination Austria Ltd. holding the position of deputy chairman.