United Finance plc, a subsidiary of United Group Ltd, on Wednesday announced that Joseph F.X. Zahra has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In doing so, he replaces Carmen Gatt Baldacchino, who resigned from the office of Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the company with effect from Wednesday.

United Finance proceeded to thank Ms Gatt Baldacchino for her “service and contribution” to the company and for her “fundamental role” in the group’s growth over the years.

Carmen Gatt Baldacchino / United Group / Facebook

Mr Zahra, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at United Group, has worked as an Independent Non-Executive Director at the company for over 10 years.

He is an Economist and Corporate Consultant with over 30 years of experience in change management engagements with global companies in Europe. Aside from his new role, he is also Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at life assurance company MAPFRE MSV Life, Founding Partner and Director at corporate and human resources consulting firm SurgeAdvisory, as well as Director and Member of the Executive Board at Canada-based jeweller Birks Group Inc.

United Finance was set up in 2000 with the primary aim of raising finance through the public capital markets to finance the operations and investments of United Group. The group was established in 1926 and is active in Malta’s automotive, fashion retail, food and beverage, as well as real estate sectors.

Social image: United Group subsidiary United Estates' Pendergardens development / United Estates