Steve Ellul, a banker who failed to get elected to the European Parliament last month, has been handpicked by Prime Minister Robert Abela to lead Infrastructure Malta.
The appointment happened following revelations by The Shift earlier this week that CEO Ivan Falzon relinquished his post after disagreements with the new transport minister over the direction of the agency.
An unknown banker until a few months ago, Ellul was given a big push by Abela and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli to replace former rebel PL MEP Cyrus Engerer at the European Parliament.
Dalli made Ellul the first CEO of Project Green in attempt to boost his public image, but the previously unknown banker did not manage to complete a single large project despite a multi-million-euro budget.
Instead, he developed a reputation for spending tens of thousands of taxpayers’ money to boost his image among voters.
Ellul failed to gain the necessary votes to make it to Brussels despite Abela’s endorsement. He was outstripped by a lesser-known Gozitan candidate, Thomas Bugeja, who only decided to contest the election two months before the polls.
Ellul’s appointment to head the agency has not been received well, as he is considered as not having the necessary experience, skills, or capabilities to lead such a complex organisation.
“Ellul will be completely lost here, and Infrastructure Malta will continue to sink further,” senior officials said. “We need an experienced manager with experience in the field, not a novice more interested in getting one lucrative government position after another.”
Infrastructure Malta’s never-ending delays in completing projects have created a nationwide traffic management disaster.
During his time as CEO, Falzon tried to end a culture of conflicts of interest where architects, top managers and officials frequently moonlight for the same private contractors they are supposed to be supervising.
He introduced a code of conduct that required all employees to declare their interests, but its implementation left much to be desired. Stories of blatant conflicts and possible corruption continued to be reported, and no apparent disciplinary measures were taken against the culprits.
Minister Bonett’s insistence on removing Falzon is being interpreted by government officials as an attempt to shift the blame in the face of ongoing criticism.
Ellul “is considered as not having the necessary experience, skills or capabilities to lead such a complex organization”
Most would say that it was precisely for this reason that he was put in the post.
He is not, after all, the first incapable boss appointed to head some ‘authority’ or other, the important consideration being that money – and streams of it, when and where possible – should flow in his/her direction.
Never mind the messy consequences and the ill-spent funds!
He is unemployed now but had his snout deep in the trough and rode the JM bandwagon to get on the EU gravy train so robber has to employ him so his snout can yet again be gorging from the tax payers trough
Am surprised he didn’t return to BOV considering that appointments are all
Political. Sources say he retained good contact with the BOV CEO who’s main mission is to boost his ego and appease politicians.
6 months max.
Incompetent like the previous one. A political appointee without the necessary qualifications for this very important role. Previous one was a ticket clerk with Air Malta and this was an BOV employee. Disgrace.
🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷
There is still space for more, isn’t there!
Unqualified? PERFECT MLP qualifications. The sooner all these parasites are kicked out of office, the better off Malta will be.
If this person wasn’t competent within a financial institution, it certainly bodes ill, for him to juggle millions and make decisions that could cost more. It is more interesting to find out why he is so popular with our infamous politicians. Could it be that he is being rewarded for his silence and obedience?