Nigel Vella has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC), with his tenure set to commence at the beginning of April.

He succeeds Pierre Fenech, who will now be focusing solely on his role as CEO of the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), as announced earlier this month.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, expressed his gratitude to Mr Fenech for his leadership at the MCC in recent years, noting his contributions towards several key achievements. He also extended his congratulations to Mr Vella on his new appointment.

Dr Borg stated, “I encourage the MCC to continue providing its services and expertise in the organisation of top-tier conferences and cultural initiatives, as Malta continues to diversify its cultural tourism offering, while strengthening its regional standing in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, which is attracting many rewarding opportunities to the Maltese Islands.”

Mr Vella brings with him substantial experience in government communications and strategic affairs. Most recently, he served as a consultant within the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment. He previously held senior roles within the Office of the Prime Minister, including that of Deputy Head of Communications and Government Spokesperson.

He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority. Mr Vella holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Malta, obtained in 2012.

His appointment comes at a time when the MCC continues to play a pivotal role in Malta’s cultural and conference tourism landscape, aligning with national efforts to position the country as a regional hub for MICE events.