‘By understanding clients’ goals, we can deliver exceptional value’ – Chris Casapinta

Finco Trust, one of Malta’s leading multi-disciplinary professional services organisations, looks forward to a future that balances innovation with personalised service while building on its 35-year legacy of excellence in the financial sector.

In the rapidly changing landscape of Malta’s financial services sector, Chris Casapinta stands out as a leader who understands the delicate balance between innovation and tradition. As a new shareholder in Finco Trust as from April 2024, following a strategic exit from Alter Domus in 2023, he brings a fresh perspective while honouring the organisation’s established reputation. 

“When I took over Finco, I gave careful thought to what we wanted the company to represent going forward,” Chris shares. “Given the company’s excellent 35-year track record, it would have been a mistake to completely start from scratch. Instead, our rebrand had to highlight our evolution – showing our clients, partners and peers that we’re an organisation focused on innovative approaches and client service, while staying true to our roots.”

Having spent his career in client services, Chris’ fundamental ethos revolves around exceeding client expectations. “My leadership style is client-centric, but it goes beyond that,” he emphasises. “I believe in driving innovation in our service delivery, developing new service lines that anticipate our clients’ needs and maintaining close relationships with them. By deeply understanding their businesses and objectives, we’re better positioned to deliver exceptional value.” 

Chris sees his role primarily as a catalyst for future-proofing the organisation. “My focus is twofold: Developing the company while investing in our people,” he shares. “I’m committed to ensuring we achieve our collective objectives as a company, but equally important is creating an environment where our employees can find fulfilment and forge meaningful career paths.”

An integral element of the company’s development is its technological platform. “With innovative solutions emerging in both accounting and fund management, it would be a missed opportunity not to leverage these new tools,” he explains. “We’re conducting a comprehensive review to identify areas where we can enhance our capabilities – a crucial undertaking given that Finco works with international financial institutions, fund managers and tax consultants, most of whom are based outside Malta. The goal is to implement upgraded systems that will significantly improve our operational efficiency and client interactions.” 

With technological advancement comes the need for specialised expertise. Building on Finco Trust’s team of 35 highly competent and loyal professionals, the company has begun a strategic recruitment drive. “We’re developing a multi-family office platform that will support family offices worldwide with their accounting, consolidation and related services,” Chris shares. “This completely new service line naturally requires new specialised resources.” 

The focus on niche talent also reflects broader changes in the financial services sector. “The industry has evolved into distinct areas of expertise, largely driven by regulatory requirements,” he says. “While outsourcing is an option to some extent, we’re committed to strengthening our in-house capabilities.” However, recruitment in Malta’s financial services sector presents unique challenges. “The real challenge is the market’s size – it’s extremely limited when you’re looking for sector-specific knowledge,” says Chris. “We must look beyond Malta’s shores, but the island is not as attractive as it once was from a relocation perspective. Housing affordability is a major issue, and families struggle with finding school places for their children.”

While the Mediterranean lifestyle and climate are appealing, and Malta offers excellent fiscal incentives like the Highly Qualified Persons scheme, Chris believes a more comprehensive approach is needed. “Compared to competing jurisdictions like Luxembourg and Ireland, we’re at a disadvantage,” he explains. “These countries have created holistic ecosystems that make relocation easier for entire families, not just individual employees. When we’re recruiting mid to senior-level management, we’re typically dealing with professionals who come with family commitments. We need to shift toward making Malta attractive on a household level.”

Reflecting on 2024, Chris acknowledges both challenges and opportunities in Malta’s financial services sector. “The most concerning aspect has been the rapid pace of change,” he notes. “Whether it’s geopolitical dynamics, economic shifts, or industry developments – things we’ve taken for granted for years have shown their vulnerability. It’s been a stark reminder that nothing is permanent, and we need to maintain our agility in responding to market and political changes.”

Yet within this environment of upheaval, Chris appreciates Malta’s remarkable ability to insulate itself from global economic turbulence. While major economies, including Germany, are facing significant challenges, Malta’s diversified economy has shown impressive resilience. “This is evident in our active job market and the continued influx of new businesses, especially in the FinTech space,” he says. Looking specifically at the financial services industry, Chris points to the growth seen throughout 2024, with a notable increase in new company formations, particularly in the regulated sector.

For 2025 and beyond, Chris identifies two transformative forces shaping the industry’s future. “We’re witnessing a revolution in customer experience, particularly in payments and basic banking services,” he notes. “This evolution will extend across all financial services sectors – from insurance to asset management. The key transformation isn’t just in internal operations; it’s in how financial institutions interact with clients. Major firms are already investing in robo-advisory services, and this trend is likely to accelerate.”

The second major force is an unprecedented transfer of wealth between generations. “As the baby boomer generation transitions into retirement, we’re experiencing a massive redistribution of wealth to younger investors who approach wealth management very differently,” Chris explains. “Traditional cornerstones like real estate might not maintain their dominant position, while digital assets could become mainstream investment options.”

“The financial sector has historically taken a conservative approach,” Chris observes, “but those days are behind us. The future belongs to organisations that can embrace change and balance innovation without losing basic human-to-human functionality.”  

This article is part of the serialisation of 50 interviews featured in Malta CEOs 2025 – the sister brand to MaltaCEOs.mt and an annual high-end publication bringing together some of the country’s most influential business leaders.