Q: How has your career within MAPFRE led to this role? 

I have been with the group for a number of years, having started at a very junior level and gradually assumed different responsibilities along the way. My first CEO appointment was at the life company, back in 2021, which I led for three years. I was then asked to take over as President and CEO of the non-life company, MAPFRE Malta, and also to serve as Country CEO for the MAPFRE Malta Group in Malta. 

Q: What is your vision for MAPFRE Malta? 

In terms of vision, we are genuinely excited about what the future holds, both at the company level and in the broader context in which we operate. Being part of the MAPFRE Group is a privilege: we have access to the capabilities and experience of a major international organisation, while also being a company that has been established in Malta since the 1980s and understands the local market deeply. 

That combination gives us a strong competitive position, one that is always centred on the customer. Our purpose is to take care of what matters to you, and that pledge applies to our customers and our employees alike. 

Q: How do you want UK investors and partners to perceive MAPFRE Malta? 

MAPFRE is a global brand, recognised across 38 countries and four regions. That brand is a direct reflection of the reputation we have built and continue to build upon. In Malta, we offer both life and non-life products, which means we can address not only insurance needs but also savings and retirement requirements. We can look at the full picture of what our customers need. 

Our purpose is not simply to sell insurance products. It is to take care of the family and business needs of our clients, whether that means protecting a life, protecting an asset or helping someone work towards a financial objective. We are, in effect, an enabler. 

Q: What market position does MAPFRE Malta hold today? 

We are, humbly, the leader in insurance, savings and pension solutions in Malta, and I believe that is a result of what MAPFRE has built throughout the years and what the group is able to offer. We provide strong financial credentials, a long-standing reputation and the backing of MAPFRE as a shareholder, alongside Bank of Valletta. 

On the life side, the company is effectively a joint venture between MAPFRE Malta and Bank of Valletta, which needs no introduction on the island as the leading bank here. When customers know that two such institutions stand behind the product, that naturally brings considerable peace of mind. 

Q: What distinguishes MAPFRE Malta from its competitors? 

On the non-life side, our track record of staying close to the client, consistently meeting expectations and delivering quality service is what truly distinguishes us. We invest continuously in technology, in resources and in human talent. That last point is perhaps the most important differentiator. We are very proud of the opportunities we give our people to learn and grow as professionals, because at the end of the day, their development is what enables us to deliver a superior service to our customers. 

Q: How is innovation changing the way you operate? 

We are living through a period of unprecedented technological change, and we are investing accordingly, in innovation, digitalisation and automation, while always keeping the human element at the centre of everything we do. 

We are constantly investing in digitalisation and exploring different ways of interacting with our customers. Some still prefer to walk into our offices and speak directly with our people or our intermediaries, and we fully support that. Others prefer to engage digitally, and that is where a significant portion of our investment is currently directed. 

Q: Where will technology have the greatest impact next? 

In the back office, we are automating processes that are repetitive or of a lower value-added nature, so that our people can move on to more intellectually challenging work and continue to develop as professionals. We recently appointed a Chief Technology Officer, which is part of that evolutionary process. Together with our investment in people, technology represents one of the two main areas of investment within the organisation. At the same time, we firmly believe the future will require combining the human element with the technological one to serve our customers in the best possible way. 

Q: Where do you see the greatest potential for growth? 

We try to steer away from looking at our business through a purely product-driven lens. What we are working towards is being a genuinely customer-centric company. Rather than identifying a product and presenting it to the customer, we seek to understand what the customer needs, taking the broader picture into account. 

On the life side, we believe pensions represent an area with significant growth potential. We have already seen personal pension plan legislation enacted and some uptake of voluntary occupational pension schemes, supported by financial incentives that are very much welcome. We always encourage people to start saving for retirement as soon as they enter the workforce, ideally in their early 20s. 

Q: Why should UK investors look at Malta now? 

There are several key strengths the island presents. The first is economic and political stability, which provides a solid foundation for long-term investment decisions. 

From a UK investor perspective specifically, the fact that the majority of the workforce speaks English is a significant advantage. There is also the access to the European market, which remains an important consideration. Beyond that, the infrastructure Malta offers, both digital and physical, alongside well-developed services in healthcare and education, gives the island a well-rounded and genuinely compelling package for businesses and individuals looking to relocate or invest. 

For our part at MAPFRE Malta, any business relocating to the island will need insurance solutions as part of its operating model. Having an internationally recognised name here to provide that continuity and security is, I believe, a genuine source of reassurance. 

Q: What impact do you hope to have on Malta’s insurance market? 

We are a company that is looking to grow, that delivers for its shareholders, but that also keeps the customer firmly at the centre. Our goal is for every person or business that relies on us to feel they have a partner they can trust, one that will be there when the time comes for an insurance company to step in and deliver. 

In terms of our contribution to the broader sector, I think MAPFRE brings genuine innovation to the Maltese insurance market. We are also deeply connected to the community in which we operate. Whether in the arts, in social initiatives or in environmental responsibility, we want to leave a positive mark, and that is a dimension of the MAPFRE culture that I am particularly proud of.