News
GFSB Announces New Chairperson Mr. Owen Smith
The GFSB, following the AGM on the 15th March has a new Chairperson Mr. Owen Smith of TSN Barristers and Solicitors/ Word of Mouth. This follows on from the recent AGM and the sad retirement from the Chair and the GFSB Board of Mr. Julian Byrne.
Mr. Bryne held the position of Chairperson for approximately 7 years and has left a legacy behind he can be very proud of including the Business Innovation Awards which have seen year-on-year growth in applications, the strengthening connections with the European Small Business Alliance (ESBA) the Intouch magazine and the joining with Women In Business (WIB) which was rebranded as Women In Enterprise (WIE) to name a few.
For the first time in GFSB history, the position for Chairperson was contested with two nominees for the post; Mr. Owen Smith and Mr. Blythe Reeves.
Following their formal approval as nominees by the board on 8th March, and a week of campaigning, both Mr. Smith and Mr. Reeves, delivered a short pitch to the AGM on 15 March 2023 allowing the GFSB members present an insight as to how the GFSB would look and function under their supervision.
The counting of the votes was overseen by an impartial witness, Neil Rumford of EY, and it was announced that Mr. Owen Smith had been voted in as Chairperson with 90 votes to Mr. Reeve’s 35.
Mr. Smith thanked the members present for attending and their participation in the AGM process, the GFSB Board for their support and Julian Byrne for his 7 years of dedication to the GFSB. He reiterated that he hoped to bring his professional and GFSB experience to the role of Chairperson, and focus on the three areas in the first year;
Advocacy for and representation of members interests, further provision of training & Information services, and enhancing of networking opportunities.
The GFSB would like to thank all members for their continued support and it is with great pleasure we can announce the full GFSB Board.
Chairperson: Owen Smith
Vice Chair: Daniel Delgado
Treasurer: Neville Dalmedo
Secretary: Janet Brear
Blythe Reeve
Eran Shay
Ramesh Karnani
Carmel Khalilian
Henry Bautista
Brian Ross
Guy Povedano
Michaela Rees
Co – opted Board Members:
Steven Marin
Rebecca Jackson
———————————————————————————————————————–
Press release ends
SHARE THIS
OTHER NEWS
Brexit
News
Treaty
Results Are In! Treaty Impact GFSB Members Flash Survey
The GFSB has conducted a flash survey of its members concerning their experiences during the first two weeks of the new Treaty arrangements.
The Office of Fair Trading's latest Annual Report reveals record numbers of businesses, plans to simplify licensing through a new Business Act and fewer consumer complaints. GFSB's Business Support Manager, Kim Chang, breaks down what the proposed reforms, increased digital services and stronger enforcement could mean for businesses, and why the GFSB's role in shaping policy has been recognised.
News
Thrive
What a Year!
What a year it's been! From the Treaty moving from negotiation to reality to AI, workplace pensions, business confidence and everything in between, this year's Thrive EDIT has helped members navigate one of the busiest periods in Gibraltar's recent history. Before we take a short summer break, Editor David Revagliatte looks back at the stories that shaped the year and thanks readers for joining us on the journey.
Could Gibraltar be missing a golden opportunity? GFSB Board Director Brian Ross believes the answer is yes. In this thought-provoking opinion piece, he argues that Gibraltar should consider a residency route for financially self-sufficient individuals, attracting experienced people with the wealth, expertise and international networks to strengthen our economy. Could this be the next step in keeping Gibraltar competitive?
Education
Growing Beyond the Owner
For many SMEs, the success of the business has been built on the expertise, relationships and commitment of its owner. This entrepreneurial approach has been instrumental in the growth of many of Gibraltar's successful businesses. However, as organisations develop, dependence on a single individual can become a strategic risk.