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News article (
29th Jan. 2010 )
Andrew Mangion (39) is Executive Chairman of the EC Group, an international English language school chain with operations in Malta, UK, USA and South Africa. He acquired equity in the fledgling Maltese company in 1997 and grew the organization into one of the leading international players. Marcus Pettersson presents the interview and is grateful for Mr Mangion’s time and input.
Prior to joining EC Andrew worked for an international trading company with offices in Russia, India, Dubai, the Baltics and Malta, running their Indian and later Baltic operations.
He graduated from Luther College (USA) in 1992 having double majored in Business Management and French. He is a director of Chiswick House School and St Martin’s College and is serving his second term as President of the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta - FELTOM.
In 2005 he championed the start-up of the first YPO Chapter in Malta and was Chapter Chair between 2005 and 2008. He is currently a member of the YPO European Board.
I know that you have been the FELTOM President two years in a row now. Will you continue as president if you are re-elected?
In 2008 I ran for President of Feltom because I felt there were key issues that I wanted to tackle. I was elected in 2008 and again in 2009. I feel that I have achieved what I set out to achieve and it is now time to pass on the leadership. I will not be seeking a third term as President at our AGM on the 27th Jan but I know that there is one very strong candidate for the role and I hope that he is elected.
You are no longer CEO at EC but instead executive chairmen. What kind of new duties has come with this position?
After 12 years as CEO of the EC Group I felt that it was time to pass on the position to a very strong and dynamic new leader for a number of reasons. 1- I feel that a change in leadership at the right time can be very healthy for an organisation. 2- I believe that our new CEO has all the right capabilities to take EC on the next phase of our great adventure. 3- It sends a very clear message to all the team at EC that notwithstanding the fact that we are a family owned company one can move up to the top of the company irrespective of family ties. This move will now allow me to focus more intensely on mergers and acquisitions, new business development, investor relations and general Public Relations. As executive chairman I will remain involved in the executive and will still be around the company.
What is your expectation for the opening of EC San Francisco in April?
We have worked hard to secure a great location for our brand new school in San Francisco and I am confident that when we open in April of this year, we will have the newest and one of the most modern language schools in the heart of this lovely city.
Any comments on the new 50 cent tourist tax in Malta?
As president of Feltom, I have been in talks with the government to try and get them to reconsider this tax. We feel that it makes no sense whatsoever to levy a tax on the industry at such a dire time and I have both written to the Finance Minister as well as met with him to get him to try and remove the tax, which is supposed to come into force in April 2010. The parliamentary secretary for Tourism is also trying to mediate with the Finance Minister so as to get this tax dropped but we have no conclusive answers yet.
Do you think Malta will show better figures 2010 comparing to last year, and which of your 8 centres has the largest number of students today?
We never stop hoping for good news and I am confident that things will change for the better in Malta. The key question is WHEN! So far we are seeing 2010 looking worse than 2009, however we are hopeful that things will turn around in Quarter 3 and if they do we could actually see a full turnaround for the year. It is however early to judge what will happen from now. We actually will have 9 centres by April and the busiest centre today is in fact London.
Source/Author: Marcus Pettersson - Schools & Agents
Published: 29th Jan. 2010 |
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