Joseph Zammit Tabona

Mr. Joseph Zammit Tabona FCA, CPA, FIA, FMIT, MOM, KM. is an accountant by profession and was articled with Turquand Youngs & Co in London and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in England and Wales in 1971. He became a partner of the Malta branch of Turquand Youngs & Co on the 1^st of April 1972 and, after numerous mergers and acquisitions, ended up as a senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) until his retirement from active practice in March 2000. He served numerous Maltese and International companies as an auditor and trusted advisor and has been involved in assisting multitudes of family businesses to restructure to retain continuity and leadership across their generational growth.

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Joseph is presently the Chairman of the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council working with Minister Clyde Caruana to initially develop Malta’s long-term strategy for financial services, which was formally launched in March 2023, and now to implement it. This work is unique in having brought together all areas of financial services, including the private sector, the regulators namely the MFSA, the MTCA, the FIAU and the MBR to work together for the national interest. The Council is now focused on implementing some 50/70 out of 175 initiatives within 2024.

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In 1997,  Joseph’s dedication and commitment to service resulted in his being conferred the significant order of a knighthood of Magistral Grace by the Sovereign Hospitalier Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta.  In addition, on the 13^th December 2016, the Government of Malta appointed Mr Zammit Tabona a Member of the Order of Merit. On the 14^th November 2017, the Malta Stock Exchange plc awarded Mr. Zammit Tabona with the Lifetime Achievement Award. On the 7^th of April 2021, Joseph was awarded with a certificate of recognition upon reaching 50 years of membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

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Joseph has worked tirelessly to support all governments in bettering the island and has promoted Malta internationally both in a personal and an appointed capacity.

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Joseph was appointed as Malta’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and presented his Letters of Credence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 10^th June 2009 a role which he held until the 31^st of July 2013. He concurrently served as non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland during the same period. Joseph took to these roles with aplomb and was constant seeking ways to build Malta’s credence, reputation and attract opportunities and business opportunities to the island.

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Joseph was also the founding Chairman of Malta Enterprise, which he worked with the then Minister of Economic Services, to set up through the amalgamation of the Malta Development Corporation, the Malta External Trade Corporation and the Institute for the Promotion of Small Business. His role spanned 2002 to 2006.  

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Joseph is currently an active Director of the Klesch Group Limited and active on a number of Boards of Directors. He is also currently Chairman of Valletta Cruise Port plc and Tigne Mall plc. In summary, Mr. Zammit Tabona has served as the Chairman of the Malta Stock Exchange, FinanceMalta  and Viset Malta / Valletta Cruise Port plc and has been an active Board member for the Bank of Valletta [1992 – 1997], MCAST [2001 – 2005], HSBC Life Assurance (Malta) Limited [2001 – 2005]. He has also been elected President of the Federation of Industry [1990 to 1992, and again 2000 – 2003] and Chairman  of the Accountancy Board [2000  – 2006].

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Joseph was born on the 2^nd of March 1944 and is the eldest child of the late Francis and late Maria nee Refalo. He was educated at St. Edward’s College. Mr. Zammit Tabona married Susan nee Lee Watson on the 26^th of July 1969 and has two children Nicola married to Simon Paris and Justin married to Catherine nee Bianchi. Susan and Joseph are proud grandparents to Laura, Philip and Emily belonging to Nicola and Simon and John, Georgia and Paul belonging to Justin and Catherine.

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