Businessman William DeSilva has been appointed the President of the Bermuda Employers Council ? the Island's leading employers organisation.

Mr. DeSilva was elected earlier this month and takes over the position from former President of three years Eddie Saints.

With an extensive background in accounting and management, Mr. DeSilva is looking forward to being at the helm of the organisation which provides a resource and support service for 550 local employers.

Mr. DeSilva has been actively involved with the BEC for a number of years, more recently as the second Vice President of the counsel. The position of President is elected by the membership and is not a full-time job.

The role involves overseeing all aspects of the BEC and assisting the Executive Director in taking care of the memberships interests.

The BEC membership base has grown in past years and employers are turning to the organisation to provide training courses and guidance for the smallest mom and pop diner to some of the Island's leading accounting and finance firms.

With an energetic, dedicated attitude, and an extensive background in management and finance, Mr. DeSilva said his observant nature, integrity, and his ability to look at an issue fairly from both sides may have caught the eye of the membership.

"My background is probably quite useful and a useful skill set for this position," said Mr. DeSilva. "Leadership styles vary, my predecessor has a certain leadership style and I have mine.

"Overall I feel I'm motivated with integrity and am aware of the input from a diverse number of groups. I also feel that I'm a fair individual."

With Government's proposal of mandatory time and a half pay rejected by the Senate yesterday, Mr. DeSilva said the BEC was pleased to see it turned down, however, he pointed out that there were other amendments which were necessary or general housekeeping tasks which had to be sent back to work their through the channels of Government.

"On a whole we were not against the legislation, our membership was polled and the majority were happy with the wording of the act.

"That one particular one ? there was dialogue on it and we were all on the same page with it. We're regretful it got turned back but because it was an all or nothing decision that's what happened."

Since 2001 Mr. DeSilva has been the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bermuda Gas. He is married to Cindy and has two daughters Alana, 13, and Alexa, 4 and lives in Smiths parish.

A graduate of Mt. St. Agnes Academy, Mr. DeSilva is active in alumni activities. He graduated from MSA in 1979 and went to Canada to study at St. Francis Xavier University, graduating with a Bachelor in Business Administration.

He also holds his CMA qualification and is the only Bermudian to be appointed as a Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.

Mr. DeSilva said the BEC is looking to find out more about what sort of guidance it can offer employers. Recently members were polled asking about the services provided by the BEC and what they would like to see added on, an initiative the BEC will use as a guide for implementing future services and training programmes.

His vision for the future also includes ironing out clear goals and objectives for the BEC.

"I'd like to see a strategic planning session early on in the new year to develop our objectives and out of that process develop supporting tactics to achieve future success."

Mr. DeSilva advice to employers is to work as a team and get to know individual employees goals and aspirations.

"I think they can listen to their employees and help to speak truthfully to their employees. They can help them fulfil some of their dreams and be in touch with who they are.

"It can make for a better and harmonious workplace and one that leads to more success if you work as a team because you share a common vision and understand one another's chemistry."