Who is Angelo Xuereb?
The eldest amongst 11 children. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m self made, but from a young age I was determined to be successful. Thank God, I’ve moved on in life. Notwithstanding the difficulties, I’ve always been determined to achieve my targets. It’s important to never give up.
How did it all ignite?
Two weeks after I got married, I started my own business. At first, I employed two people, and our first tasks were small, government, construction tenders often not exceeding €500 in value and gradually grew my business, step by step. Today, we employ more than 1,400 employees, apart from several sub-contractors and suppliers. I’m grateful for our success and we have plans to grow bigger.
Why did you diversify your business?
I started within the construction industry, but my philosophy has always been not to put all my eggs in one basket.
Within eight years, I diversified into the tourism industry. It wasn’t an easy diversification/ I had no fall-back position; my father had discouraged me from going into business. I had already gained a good reputation within the construction sector. I also had the largest pre-cast factory in Malta and co-owned a quarry with my brother. I ventured into health care, and built the St James Hospital in Sliema, and the elderly home – Hilltop Gardens.
I also have a joint-ownership in photovoltaic farms, the largest one in Malta and my group is also involved in the Valletta Cruise Port.
What skills are important for leadership?
I have always believed that to be successful one must be creative, efficient and determined to achieve your targets. My advice is to take the long-term approach rather than opting for shortcuts. I use the analogy of driving on a motor way – if you drive at full speed, you risk crashing.
How can a family business succeed?
I have two daughters leading my business, one leads the construction arm, the other the hospitality and healthcare sector. Since a young age, I advised them to choose a career that they are passionate at. Out of their won will, they both opted to go into the family business. as for myself, despite being over 70 years old, I’m still active, working more than 12 hours a day, but grateful that my children shall continue the business. As a young man I was quite shy. My father discouraged me from starting my own business urging instead to become a bank manager. I was determined not to do the same mistake with my children. I always give my children the benefit of the doubt. The younger generation have a different outlook of life than my generation. Having said that, if I’m certain that I am in the right, I stick to my plans.
How do you stay competitive?
You must always have an edge on your competitors. I chose quality. Unfortunately, and especially within the construction industry, many are mostly profit-oriented. My priority is pride in what we do. You must always have an edge on your competitors – just like an athlete who wins the race with a split of a second, and notwithstanding, he’s the winner since he made that extra effort, which requires hard work and the determination to overcome challenges. To be better than other, you must work harder than others.
How do you motivate people?
I was and remain a worker. Having started from scratch, I appreciate my employees. You must keep your employees motivated, showing appreciation. We organise two large social events yearly for our employees. Given the large size of our Group, it is a good occasion for them to meet and get to know each other. We also give the Chairman’s Award for extra effort made. I consider our employees to be colleagues, first and foremost – I am one of them.
We need each other – there must always be a collective effort. I measure success on targets reached. I employ local people, they make mistakes but learn from them and move on. Loyalty is crucial for me – if someone steals a few euros, he/she can steal much more, I cannot trust such people, and they can’t be part of the group.
What was your biggest challenge?
My greatest challenge was when I was constructing the Suncrest Hotel in Qawra, Malta. Way back in 1986, it was by far the largest private investment and the largest hotel on the island. My target was to finish it off within a one year, but I encountered huge challenges from the local authorities. At that time, I had no idea how to manage government bureaucracy. I was always on site, putting in more than 16 hours of work daily, but through sheer determination and perseverance, I manager, yet it wasn’t easy. That was, by far, the biggest challenge I encountered.
How do you ignite a business?
If you have a dream, which you believe that you can achieve, go for it – do not give up! You will encounter challenges and obstacles, but you can’t give up. Learn from your mistakes and keep going. If you’re determined, you’ll achieve your targets.
Why is a master plan so important on a national level?
I’m a patriot. I love my country. I wrote hundreds of articles putting forward innovative ideas for the wellbeing of my country. You must always have a long-term plan, and then you can always execute it in phases. Without a plan, you are bound to fail. I’ve been encouraging mass transportation for more than 31 years. Back then, many thought that I was crazy to suggest, amongst others, an underground transportation system. At that time, traffic issues were an acute challenge, let along today and unless we go for an underground mass transportation system, no flyover shall solve the challenges we face. If we implemented this system 31 years ago, today we would have been in a much better position.
How do you manage success?
I always have a target and I am always resolved to achieve it. I’m a down to earth type of person, doing the daily chores that everyone else does – going to Church, eating out with my wife in regular restaurants, going for walks in the countryside – a very simple life. Success never got to my head. My daughter leads a Foundation, which is part of our Group, to help the needy.
When I was mayor of Naxxar, for two terms, my intention was always to help those in need, my village and my country. I used to donate my honoraria of mayor to the Naxxar Archpriest to donate it to those in need.
How would you like to be remembered?
I have vast experience in my fields and am grateful for my success. I would like the younger generation to see what I’ve been through because learning from others’ experience helps you grow. A few years ago, I published ‘Angelo’, my autobiography, in which I explained what I’ve been through, and lessons learnt. I recount how shy I was in my childhood. I remember once, at our family home, one of my father’s friends asked me “Gulinu” – because that was how they called me – “What would you like to become when you grow up?”. My reply was categorical, “A businessman”, I said. “What type of businessman”, he asked me. “I don’t know”, I said, “but a businessman and one of the biggest businessmen in Malta”.
As a 16-year-old, I told my dad that I wanted to start out within the construction industry, but he discouraged me. This all explained in my autobiography which comes along with a QR code should one be interested to know better about Malta’s history. It was sold out. I have also set up an “Expo” at my office, outlining my business pathway going back to pre-1972, when I was still a young man. It is available to anyone who wants to learn more about my business experience.
