Tauss Holdings has appointed Anthony Diacono as the new Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Director, who brings with him decades of experience in corporate leadership.

The company said it believes his track record in capital markets and internationalization will take the company forward.

Mr Diacono has served in both the manufacturing and service sectors, be it private or publicly owned. Over the years he has served as a Director of Medserv plc (now MeservRegis plc) since inception in 2001 and of Medserv Operations Ltd since 1997.

He has held several posts as Chairman, CEO, or director both in Malta and overseas.

Mr Diacono is also active with the Constituted Business Organisation in Malta and was President of the Malta Federation of Industry between 1992 and 1993.

From April 2010, Mr Diacono also sat on the board of directors of CommBank Europe Limited and was appointed as Chairman on 1 July 2012, until the bank de-listed in end 2021.

“I am excited to have been invited to join the board of directors of Tauss Holdings and their susidiaries. The medium- and long-term plans presented to me by the shareholders and their vision is what caused excitement on my part,” he said.

The founding shareholder Pierre and the second generation of ‘Tausses’, his sons Niki and Matthew, are putting in place the structure to meet both the expected growth in business and the changing legal, social and environmental requirements that corporate firms must embrace going forward. I am looking forward to this challenge.”

(L-R) Anthony Diacono, Niki Travers Tauss, Pierre Travers Tauss, and Matthew Travers Tauss

From the humble beginnings of Strand Marine in 1990 and their representation of the household names Larson Boats and Varta Car Batteries to the milestone of incorporation of Esprit Yachting in 2007 as the exclusive representatives of Azimut|Benetti Group in Malta, Tauss Holdings’ portfolio of companies has expanded over the years to include Yachting Events, which was tasked with the organisation of the successful RC44 Valletta Cup in 2015 and 2016, together with the Yacht Racing Forum, the setup of Valletta Superyachts - a boutique yacht agency and Benetti Service partner.

Most significantly, the Group went on to spearhead the development of Marina di Valletta in 2016/7 together with their Italian and local partners, which ultimately solidified the company’s position in the market.

In 2018 the group diversified operations and once again in partnership with the Azimut Benetti group and local investors AB Finance plc was setup to offer yacht finance solutions across the Azimut Yachts dealer network in Mediterranean.

Mr Diacono will be the first member of the board who is not part of the Tauss family.

Niki Travers Tauss said: “This is the first concrete step to evolving the group of companies from a family business towards a leading market player in the industry. Anthony’s experience in corporate governance, capital markets and internationalisation will be the key input to the board. He ultimately shares a common interest in yachting as an avid sailor and yachtsman, which makes him the right fit for the organisation.”

As Chairman of the Board, Mr Diacono will oversee the overall strategic direction for Tauss Holdings and its subsidiaries whilst also providing experience and insight to the executive board, together drawing up the organisation’s long-term strategy, goals and objectives now that the group is well primed to engage in its next stage of horizontal growth through targeted merger and acquisition transactions.