MBR_ISSUE 52_JUNE-compressed (5)

Malta Business Review
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
We operate in a
dynamic and fastpaced
environment
where adapting
quickly to a changing
environment can
make or break
the business.
interview with
ALAN CUSCHIERI
co-CEO of Calamatta Cuschieri
MBR: How has the mission of Calamatta
Cuschieri evolved since the founding of
the company?
AC: I believe Calamatta Cuschieri’s core
mission has stood the test of time. Our
aim was and remains till this day to be
market leaders in all that we do by offering
our clients a personalised, high value and
comprehensive service. The well being
of our dedicated staff and the building of
teams around high caliber individuals is
something that we have also been very
consistent about along the years.
During this time we have of course
developed our business proposition and
evolved our product range to an extent that
we now offer a full range of financial services
that goes beyond investments. Recently for
example we announced our entry into the
pensions and life insurance space. We feel
these services enable us to remain at the
forefront of our industry at all times.
MBR: Calamatta Cuschieri’s culture, even
at its size and scale, remains entrepreneurial
and nimble. How critical is it to
maintain that culture in order to move
into new areas and adapt quickly to a
changing environment?
AC: Certainly maintaining an agile culture is
crucial. When companies grow it becomes
increasingly challenging to maintain the
same rhythm and level of execution speed
across the various business lines. The
solution for us has been to focus on what
we think we are best at, namely financial
services as well as on-board the very best
talent and empower our people to make
the right decisions to allow us to achieve
our objectives accordingly. We operate in a
dynamic and fast-paced environment where
adapting quickly to a changing environment
can make or break the business.
MBR: Is it difficult to make long-term
investments with the short-term, quarterto-quarter
pressure for results?
AC: Striking a balance is always key. Whilst
it is not always easy to do so, especially
at a time when the Group is on a growth
path, with strict discipline, clear business
objectives and robust execution this
becomes possible. At CC, the Board of
Directors set the long-term objectives of
the Group and entrust the implementation
of these to the Executive Management
team. Naturally, we ensure that the
appropriate checks and balances are in
place to achieve both the short and longer
term plans of the Group.
MBR: What is your outlook for growth
for CC in Malta and where do you see the
greatest opportunities for growth?
AC: We are satisfied with what we have
achieved so far but of course, sitting on
our laurels is not an option for us as we
believe that we can continue to achieve
great things. This year the company
has continued to strengthen its core
infrastructure, especially in terms of
Human Resources and systems, and we feel
that we are now even better positioned to
scale the business further. We continue
to add new products and services to our
offering to make us the financial provider
of choice locally and look forward to scaling
the business further by internationalizing
our offering in the very near future. MBR
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