Board of Directors
Mr Bonett is an experienced finance professional whose background includes senior advisory roles in two of the big four professional services firms in Malta and the UK as well as senior executive positions as CFO and Group Finance Director with two fast-growing, global organisations. Throughout his career, David gained a wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, corporate finance, strategic management, and corporate governance. He currently works as a freelance finance management consultant, whilst also serving as an independent non-Executive Director on a number of boards of regulated or listed entities. David is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Melo Hili has led Hili Ventures, 1923 Investments’ parent company, since its inception in 2013, having joined the family business in 1988. He started out at Motherwell Bridge, then a joint venture with Motherwell Bridge Group of Scotland, where he served as managing director for twenty years. Melo was named Developmental Licensee for McDonald’s in Malta in 2005 and went on to expand across Europe, obtaining licenses for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2007, Greece in 2011 and Romania in 2016. Under his stewardship, the company has diversified into new sectors including technology, hospitality and real estate.
Annabel Hili currently occupies the role of Chief Operating Officer at Hili Ventures, 1923 Investments’ parent company, overseeing the group’s HR, IT, Communications and Data Protection functions. She is also involved in strategic business transformation designed to engage the group’s people and create momentum to impact portfolio and performance. A lawyer by profession, Annabel spent the first five years of her career at a leading law firm in Malta. She holds an LLM in the Law of Internet Technology from Bocconi University in Milan. She is also a board member of other companies within the group.
Mr Desira started out at the Hili family business in 1997 as an accounts clerk. He was promoted to Management Accountant with the group’s holding company in 2001 and later became financial controller at the group’s IT arm and MB Services. In 2008, Mr Desira graduated from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. A year later, he joined Premier Restaurants Malta as Finance Manager. On takeover of the Greek McDonald’s operation in 2011, Mr Desira moved to Athens. He returned to Malta as General Manager overseeing the McDonald’s operation of nine restaurants, including the opening of the Sliema restaurant in 2013. Mr Desira was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the Premier Capital group in May 2014. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer for Hili Ventures, 1923 Investments’ parent company, in January 2021. Mr Desira also sits on the boards of various Hili Ventures subsidiaries. He holds a CPA warrant and is a fellow of the Malta Institute of Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Mr Fritz has occupied key roles within the McDonald’s system around Europe since 1992. He has served as Chief Financial Officer for McDonald’s Central and Eastern Europe, Managing Director in Ukraine, Vice-President Southeast Europe with responsibility for eight countries, Project Leader for diversification and exit in Chicago and Switzerland, Managing Director in Italy, and Vice-President Chief Supply Chain Officer for McDonald’s Europe. After obtaining an MBA in Finance and International Tax from the Economic University in Vienna in 1985, he joined ITT Austria AG as internal auditor. He was later financial analyst at ITT Courier in Phoenix, Arizona, international controller at Alcatel Austria AG, and international controller at Austria-listed mining company VMAG. Mr Fritz is currently a franchisee with McDonald’s in Switzerland in the Canton of Zug.
Executive Team
Mr Busuttil joined 1923 Investments plc in 2020. Based in Malta, he is responsible for the company’s success in achieving its commercial and investment objectives. He also manages shareholder relations and supports the senior executives of the subsidiaries across the 1923 Investments group. Mr Busuttil joined the company from Oceanwood Capital Management of London where he was Portfolio Manager – European Event Driven Fund since 2014. He was previously a Partner (European Equity Absolute Return Fund) at Dalton Strategic Partnership, Vice-President, European Debt Restructuring at Blackstone Advisory Partners, part of the Blackstone Group, and a senior analyst within the Investment Banking Division at Credit Suisse in London. He holds a Master’s in Corporate Finance from SDA Bocconi Business School and is ACCA-qualified. Mr Busuttil is a board member of various Hili Ventures subsidiaries.
Mr Mifsud Saydon was appointed Chief Financial Officer for 1923 Investments plc in 2018. Additionally, he assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer of 1923 Investments’ subsidiary, Harvest Technology plc, in 2024. His career spans a range of service lines at Ernst & Young in Malta, and he has led various external audits and also headed the Transaction Support Services Department. He has been involved in several risk management assignments and drafted numerous national strategies for online gaming, financial services, ICT and media strategy, and the Eco-Gozo project.
Lorn Chetcuti joined 1923 Investments in 2021 from De La Rue Currency and Security Print Limited, where he was Site IT Manager. He holds a Master of Science in Business Information Systems Management and is highly experienced in project management, business intelligence and knowledge management. At 1923 Investments he is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and guidance to stakeholders while managing operational activities to achieve long and short-range goals and business objectives. As Director of IT, Mr Chetcuti oversees the development and implementation of a strategy that enhances the business value derived from technology.
Company Secretary
Adrian Mercieca joined Hili Ventures, 1923 Investments’ parent company, as Company Secretary and holds this position for most of its subsidiaries. He previously served as Director and Head of the Company Administration Department at Fenlex, where he was responsible for corporate, compliance, and banking matters for international clients, while also acting as Director and Company Secretary for several Maltese-registered companies. He holds an MBA from the University of Derby and an Advanced Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership from Pearson, and is also a member of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners.
Audit Committee
Karl Fritz
David Bonett
Dorian Desira