Randolph Debattista is Labour Party’s new CEO

The Labour Party has appointed Randolph Debattistia as its new chief executive officer, replacing long-serving party official Gino Cauchi.

Debattista, who studied law, has worked at Malta’s permanent representation in Brussels and also served in Michel Barnier’s team as a policy officer. Barnier was the European Commission’s chief negotiator on Brexit.

Debattista is not new to the Labour Party, having already worked in the party’s communication team prior to the 2013 election.

“Together with the leadership and administration of the party, we will work to ensure that the Labour Party remains the most organised and strong party in the country,” Debattista said, in a statement issued by the party.

Aleander Balzan, the PL's new director of communications, a post previously held by Nigel Vella and Kurt Farrugia before him

The Labour Party has also appointed a new director of communications, Aleander Balzan, replacing Nigel Vella. Balzan, a former editor of the General Workers Union’s news portal inewsmalta.com, served as head of One News for the past three years and a half.

Owen Galea, a former Union Print journalist who joined the PBS newsroom in 2013 as online coordinator, has been appointed in Balzan’s stead.

The Labour Party said that Cauchi and Vella “chose to pursue careers elsewhere”. It is understood that Vella joined the Office of the Prime Minister whilst Cauchi has been appointed as executive head at the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC). The latter appointment was confirmed by the government in an official statement.

PL deputy leader for party affairs Chris Cardona thanked the two for their work.