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Corporate Structure
Board of Directors
GPH Malta Finance Ltd. Board was established in 2022. The following are the Directors who serves on the Board at the current date.
Mehmet Kutman
Chairman
Mr. Kutman has been Chairman of the Guarantor since April 2017, being re-elected annually, and is Chairman and a founding shareholder of GIH. In addition to his active involvement in business development and project management for the Group on a transaction-by-transaction basis, Mr. Kutman is Chairman of the Boards of Directors of GPH Cruise Port Finance Ltd. (‘GPH CPF’), Barcelona Cruise Port Creuers Terminals, Bodrum Cruise Port and Nassau Cruise Port, and former Charman of the Board of Directors of GLI. He is a member of TUSIAD (Turkish Industry & Business Association) and DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board) and a former Director of Alarko REIT, a BIST – listed real estate investment trust. Prior to founding securities firm Global Menkul Değerler A.Ş. (‘GMD’) in 1990, Mr. Kutman was Project Manager at Net Holding A.Ş., a Turkish corporate group involved in tourism and related sectors, from 1989 to 1990. Between 1984 and 1989, he resided in the United States where he was Vice President of North Carolina National Bank, Sexton Roses Inc. and Philip Bush & Associates.
Mr. Kutman holds a BA (Hons.) degree from Boğaziçi University and an MBA degree from the University of Texas.
Mr. Kutman has been Chairman of the Guarantor since April 2017, being re-elected annually, and is Chairman and a founding shareholder of GIH. In addition to his active involvement in business development and project management for the Group on a transaction-by-transaction basis, Mr. Kutman is Chairman of the Boards of Directors of GPH Cruise Port Finance Ltd. (‘GPH CPF’), Barcelona Cruise Port Creuers Terminals, Bodrum Cruise Port and Nassau Cruise Port, and former Charman of the Board of Directors of GLI. He is a member of TUSIAD (Turkish Industry & Business Association) and DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board) and a former Director of Alarko REIT, a BIST – listed real estate investment trust. Prior to founding securities firm Global Menkul Değerler A.Ş. (‘GMD’) in 1990, Mr. Kutman was Project Manager at Net Holding A.Ş., a Turkish corporate group involved in tourism and related sectors, from 1989 to 1990. Between 1984 and 1989, he resided in the United States where he was Vice President of North Carolina National Bank, Sexton Roses Inc. and Philip Bush & Associates.
Mr. Kutman holds a BA (Hons.) degree from Boğaziçi University and an MBA degree from the University of Texas.
Stephen Xuereb
Board Member
Mr. Xuereb was appointed Chief Operating Officer (‘COO’) of GPH in August 2016. He has been involved in the cruise industry since the inception of Valletta Cruise Port PLC in 2002, serving as its CFO until 2014 and subsequently as CEO. He was responsible for establishing the finance and administration function and overseeing the financing of the €37 million capital intensive project in Valletta Cruise Port, as well as playing an active role in developing the cruise line business and ancillary support services in Malta. Mr. Xuereb formed part of the core team during the IPO process and subsequent expansion and is responsible for the harmonization of operational processes and systems across the group as well as nurturing a culture of knowledge sharing for the continued development of the individual ports in terms of operational excellence and revenue maximization. Mr Xuereb sits on a number of Boards within the Group, most notably Global Ports Melita, Valletta Cruise Port Plc, Cruceros del Port de Barcelona, Cruceros Malaga, Lisbon Cruise Port, Venezia Investimenti SRL, Cagliari Cruise Port, Catania Cruise Terminal, Taranto Cruise Port, GPH Antigua Ltd, Goulette Cruise Holding Ltd, Goulette Shipping Cruise and Zadar Cruise Port amongst others. Prior to entering the Cruise sector, Mr Xuereb held positions in the audit and financial advisory sectors, as well as the retail, property and hospitality industries. Mr. Xuereb is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants and a Henley MBA graduate.
Mr. Xuereb is a qualified accountant and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants in Malta. He also holds an MBA degree from Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Mr. Xuereb was appointed Chief Operating Officer (‘COO’) of GPH in August 2016. He has been involved in the cruise industry since the inception of Valletta Cruise Port PLC in 2002, serving as its CFO until 2014 and subsequently as CEO. He was responsible for establishing the finance and administration function and overseeing the financing of the €37 million capital intensive project in Valletta Cruise Port, as well as playing an active role in developing the cruise line business and ancillary support services in Malta. Mr. Xuereb formed part of the core team during the IPO process and subsequent expansion and is responsible for the harmonization of operational processes and systems across the group as well as nurturing a culture of knowledge sharing for the continued development of the individual ports in terms of operational excellence and revenue maximization. Mr Xuereb sits on a number of Boards within the Group, most notably Global Ports Melita, Valletta Cruise Port Plc, Cruceros del Port de Barcelona, Cruceros Malaga, Lisbon Cruise Port, Venezia Investimenti SRL, Cagliari Cruise Port, Catania Cruise Terminal, Taranto Cruise Port, GPH Antigua Ltd, Goulette Cruise Holding Ltd, Goulette Shipping Cruise and Zadar Cruise Port amongst others. Prior to entering the Cruise sector, Mr Xuereb held positions in the audit and financial advisory sectors, as well as the retail, property and hospitality industries. Mr. Xuereb is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants and a Henley MBA graduate.
Mr. Xuereb is a qualified accountant and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants in Malta. He also holds an MBA degree from Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Aysegul Bensel
Board Member
Mrs. Bensel was first appointed to the Board on 12 April 2017 and has been re-elected annually. She is also a member of the Boards of Directors of GLI, GPH CPF, Barcelona Cruise Port Creuers Terminals, Valletta Cruise Port, Ege Port (Kuşadası), Bodrum Cruise Port, Nassau Cruise Port, Antigua Cruise Port and Global Ports Americas Holding Limited. Mrs. Bensel is a member of the Board of Directors of GIH and was Managing Director of its Real Estate Division and Chairperson of Pera REIT Company until 2020. Previously, until the sale of Global Hayat in 2005, Mrs. Bensel was Chairperson of its Board of Directors and its CEO. Mrs. Bensel was formerly a member of the Board of Directors of GMD where, between 1993 and 1999, she was Assistant Director and then Co-Director of Research. Prior to joining GMD as an equity research analyst in 1991, Mrs. Bensel was a manager in foreign exchange dealings in the Turkish banking sector. Mrs. Bensel is a member of the Guarantor’s Remuneration Committee and its Nomination Committee.
Mrs. Bensel holds a BA degree in Business Administration and Finance from Hacettepe University, Ankara.
Mrs. Bensel was first appointed to the Board on 12 April 2017 and has been re-elected annually. She is also a member of the Boards of Directors of GLI, GPH CPF, Barcelona Cruise Port Creuers Terminals, Valletta Cruise Port, Ege Port (Kuşadası), Bodrum Cruise Port, Nassau Cruise Port, Antigua Cruise Port and Global Ports Americas Holding Limited. Mrs. Bensel is a member of the Board of Directors of GIH and was Managing Director of its Real Estate Division and Chairperson of Pera REIT Company until 2020. Previously, until the sale of Global Hayat in 2005, Mrs. Bensel was Chairperson of its Board of Directors and its CEO. Mrs. Bensel was formerly a member of the Board of Directors of GMD where, between 1993 and 1999, she was Assistant Director and then Co-Director of Research. Prior to joining GMD as an equity research analyst in 1991, Mrs. Bensel was a manager in foreign exchange dealings in the Turkish banking sector. Mrs. Bensel is a member of the Guarantor’s Remuneration Committee and its Nomination Committee.
Mrs. Bensel holds a BA degree in Business Administration and Finance from Hacettepe University, Ankara.
Taddeo Scerri
Board Member
Mr. Scerri established a career in public practice first as an auditor and subsequently as a business advisor. During his 43 years' experience in this sector, most of which at partner level, he was in charge of large client accounts and local projects.
Under his leadership, MSD & Co, which was the representative office of Arthur Andersen, grew to be one of the five largest local audit firms. Subsequent to the winding down of Arthur Andersen, MSD & Co merged with EY to establish a firm that then was amongst the largest big four firms in Malta. At EY Mr. Scerri was the deputy managing partner in charge of the transaction advisory service lines.
In 2005, Mr. Scerri, together with other ex-EY partners, set up RSM Malta. Mr. Scerri occupied the post of Managing Partner of RSM Malta until his retirement in December, 2015.
Mr. Scerri acts as director of various entities in the public sector (including Kordin Grain Terminal Limited and Malta External Trade Corporation) as well as listed companies. He also served as chairman of the executive committee of a prominent group involved in the leisure and tourist sector. Mr. Scerri was appointed director and chairman to the Audit Committee of Bank of Valletta plc in 2013 and chairman of the board in December 2016, retiring in May 2020. In 2018 Mr. Scerri was also appointed director of Mapfre Middlesea Insurance plc and was also a member of its Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee. Mr. Scerri is still serving as a consultant to a number of prestigious local groups.
Mr. Scerri established a career in public practice first as an auditor and subsequently as a business advisor. During his 43 years' experience in this sector, most of which at partner level, he was in charge of large client accounts and local projects.
Under his leadership, MSD & Co, which was the representative office of Arthur Andersen, grew to be one of the five largest local audit firms. Subsequent to the winding down of Arthur Andersen, MSD & Co merged with EY to establish a firm that then was amongst the largest big four firms in Malta. At EY Mr. Scerri was the deputy managing partner in charge of the transaction advisory service lines.
In 2005, Mr. Scerri, together with other ex-EY partners, set up RSM Malta. Mr. Scerri occupied the post of Managing Partner of RSM Malta until his retirement in December, 2015.
Mr. Scerri acts as director of various entities in the public sector (including Kordin Grain Terminal Limited and Malta External Trade Corporation) as well as listed companies. He also served as chairman of the executive committee of a prominent group involved in the leisure and tourist sector. Mr. Scerri was appointed director and chairman to the Audit Committee of Bank of Valletta plc in 2013 and chairman of the board in December 2016, retiring in May 2020. In 2018 Mr. Scerri was also appointed director of Mapfre Middlesea Insurance plc and was also a member of its Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee. Mr. Scerri is still serving as a consultant to a number of prestigious local groups.
Jérôme Bernard Jean Auguste Bayle
Board Member
Mr. Bayle was first appointed to the Board on 12 April 2017 and has been re-elected annually. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of GPH CPF. Over the course of 32 years, Mr. Bayle held top executive positions in various countries for Tetra Pak. As the former Managing Director of Tetra Pak Turkey, he was responsible for developing operations in Turkey, and regions including Central Asia and the Caucasus. He also worked in the Balkans. After retiring from Tetra Pak, Mr. Bayle established Magnetic North, a management consulting firm providing mentoring and consulting services to large multinational companies in the greater Middle East region, with particular emphasis on human resources, organisational processes and development. Mr. Bayle received numerous awards during his professional career and has been recognised for his many contributions to business and social organisations. Mr. Bayle is Chairman of the Guarantor’s Nomination Committee, its Remuneration Committee and its Audit and Risk Committee.
Mr. Bayle was first appointed to the Board on 12 April 2017 and has been re-elected annually. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of GPH CPF. Over the course of 32 years, Mr. Bayle held top executive positions in various countries for Tetra Pak. As the former Managing Director of Tetra Pak Turkey, he was responsible for developing operations in Turkey, and regions including Central Asia and the Caucasus. He also worked in the Balkans. After retiring from Tetra Pak, Mr. Bayle established Magnetic North, a management consulting firm providing mentoring and consulting services to large multinational companies in the greater Middle East region, with particular emphasis on human resources, organisational processes and development. Mr. Bayle received numerous awards during his professional career and has been recognised for his many contributions to business and social organisations. Mr. Bayle is Chairman of the Guarantor’s Nomination Committee, its Remuneration Committee and its Audit and Risk Committee.
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