Architect Reuben Abela has resigned as CEO of the Environment and Resources Authority, due to personal reasons.

Abela, formerly a manager at Heritage Malta, was appointed to the post a year ago.

Assistant lecturer Louise Spiteri has been temporarily appointed Acting CEO.

Spiteri is an ERA board member and a full-time assistant lecturer at the University of Malta’s Environment and Resource Department within the Faculty of Laws.

The ministry said that her appointment will ensure continuity in the functioning of the authority until a new CEO to the authority may be appointed as stipulated by law.

Abela had been selected by the board as ERA CEO following a call for applications. At the time, Environment Minister José Herrera said that he had no role to play in his selection, after a political decision to leave the selection in the hands of the board.