CareMalta, one of Malta’s leading companies in the care and ageing sector, has announced changes at the top, with the retirement of parent company Vassallo Group founder Nazzareno Vassallo precipitating a shake-up in the Group’s leadership.

James Sciriha will take over the Chief Executive Officer role from Natalie Briffa Farrugia, who will be replacing her father as Group Chairman, as announced in December. Mr Sciriha previously served as the Group’s Financial Controller.

Noel Borg, a registered nurse, will fill the Chief Operating Officer position after five years as Senior Nursing Manager at the company.

Meanwhile, as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen the board, Vassallo Group Director and shareholder Charlene Vella Vassallo has been appointed Director of the company with a focus on business development.

Taking to Facebook to announce the appointments, CareMalta congratulated the new leadership.

(L-R) James Sciriha, Charlene Vella Vassallo and Noel Borg

Group CEO Pio Vassallo, while congratulating Mr Sciriha, Mr Borg and Dr Vella Vassallo, stated that these changes at the highest level of the company will help it retain its position as market leader in the care sector in Malta while venturing into new areas as well.

James Sciriha

Mr Sciriha first joined the group in 2001 as a student worker whilst studying at University, before rejoining the company in 2010 as Group Financial Controller after working, specialising and gaining experience in funds and securitisation both locally and overseas with an international audit firm (Deloitte) for three years.

He was appointed Director of Finance at Caremalta on 1st January 2017. James holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Accountancy (Hons) degree from the University of Malta, and a Diploma in Fund Administration from the University of Manchester. He won a prestigious award by the Institute of Financial Services as overall excellent student in 2010 and the John Earland Prize Fund award 2010 supported by the Central Bank of Malta.

During his tenure at Caremalta, other than having a leading role in finance, Mr Sciriha was involved in a number of projects, including the winning of Zammit Clapp tender, the extensions of Casa Arkati, Dar il-Madonna tal-Mellieha, Zejtun Home and Zammit Clapp, the opening of Casa San Poalo and Casa Marija, the refurbishment of Villa Messina, HILA Homes projects, and the opening of LiveLife, the first private rehabilitation centre in Malta.

Mr Sciriha also served as a Director of Hand in Hand Malta Limited, a company offering therapeutical services for children with challenging behaviours, and led the CareMalta Group live-in during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noel Borg

Mr Borg is a nurse by profession. After working in the cardiac intensive care unit at Mater Dei Hospital, he joined the CareMalta Group in October 2005 as a staff nurse, and was later appointed Deputy Manager.

In 2010, Mr Borg took over as Facility Manager of Casa Arkati, Mosta, and later in 2012 he was appointed Nursing Manager of Zammit Clapp Hospital Residential Home. After four and a half years, he was promoted to Senior Nursing Manager of CareMalta Ltd . He is also a non-executive director on the boards of HILA Homes Ltd and CareMalta Group Ltd.

He holds a Diploma in Health Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Science (Hons) Nursing, International Diploma in Human Resources and Personnel Management and a Master’s of Arts in Bioethics. He also graduated at post-graduate level in Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management. Mr Borg is also a member of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

Charlene Vella Vassallo

Dr Vella Vassallo has been appointed Director on the CareMalta Group board, focusing primarily on alternative care. A lawyer by profession, she obtained her Doctorate in Laws in 2012 and is certainly not new to the Vassallo Group, as she has been a director and shareholder since 2012.

In 2018 she read a Masters of Laws in Human Rights of the Child from the University of London. Since 2020 she has served as Director on the board of Diligex Ltd, where she represents the group whilst at the same time offering her expertise in legal matters.

Dr Vella Vassallo is a mother of four. She firmly believes that through her journey of embracing motherhood and past missionary experiences, she has rekindled a strong desire to give something back to society. As a newly appointed Director on business development within the CareMalta Group, she aspires to put her human rights specialisation into practice, particularly through the new venture of alternative care.

About CareMalta Group

CareMalta Group provides quality services in nursing and residential care, independent living for older persons, as well as persons with disability, ALS and degenerative diseases and persons with mental health issues, through HILA Homes Ltd. The Group today cares for over 1,600 residents and employs a workforce of over 1,300 highly dedicated and well-trained personnel.

Caremalta Ltd operates nine facilities across Malta – Casa Arkati (Mosta), Villa Messina (Rabat), Roseville (Attard), Żejtun Home, Cospicua Home, Dar il-Madonna tal-Mellieħa, Zammit Clapp Hospital Residential Home (St Julians) and Casa Marija (Sliema) and Casa San Paolo (Bugibba). HILA Homes Ltd.operates Casa Apap Bologna (Mosta) and Casal Nuovo (Paola), and provides nursing and care services at Dar Bjorn (Qormi) run by the ALS Foundation.