Joseph F. X. Zahra

Joseph F.X. Zahra (born December 3, 1955) is a Maltese economist. He has held a number of directorships in both private and public companies in Malta and abroad. He is a former director of the Central Bank of Malta and former chairman of Bank of Valletta plc, Maltacom plc and Middlesea Insurance plc. He is married with two children.

Biography

Economy Zahra graduated in economics from University of Malta (B.A. 1976, M.A. 1979).

The early 90s in Malta were times of change and restructuring for many companies and government authorities in preparation for membership in the European Union. Zahra's abilities in research, analysis, human resources and business consultancy were widely sought after to help ease this transition. From 2005 to 2008, Zahra was chairperson of the National Euro Changeover Committee which introduced the euro in Malta.

Zahra is a founding partner and managing director of SurgeAdvisory Limited, a corporate consultancy. He is a member of the audit committee of Birks Group Inc. (jewellery), United Finance plc and Pendergardens plc. Zahra is director and former chairman at Mapfre Middlesea Insurance plc, United Finance plc, Curmi & Partners Limited, Pendergardens Development plc and Vodafone Insurance plc.

His past directorships include Corinthia Hotels International Ltd (2005-2007), Central Bank of Malta (1992-1996), MSV Insurance plc (1998-2014) and Malta Development Corporation (1995-1996).

Visual Arts & Literature Zahra is also a playwright and the author of a book of verse. In 2006, the Malta Society for Manufacturers and the Arts granted Zahra the Gold Medal Award for outstanding achievement in business and the arts. Zahra is also a board member of the Vatican-based Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation.

As president of COSEA, Zahra presented a report with a list of recommendations on ways to make the Vatican and its actions more transparent, simplified and more efficient. In 2015, two former members of the commission were arrested on suspicion of having leaked highly confidential documents. The publication of two books featuring the leaked documents created a barrage of negative publicity for these reforms which continued nonetheless as requested by Pope Francis Zahra and the roles he occupied with previous organisations was mentioned in the publications and news articles. In February 2015 Zahra was appointed as vice-coordinator of the Vatican's Council for the Economy, headed by Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

In his latest interview given to the Malta Chamber of Commerce, as part of their Malta CEO 2019 profile complication, Zahra advocates for a CEO's position to be held for not more than 6 years. He believes that the crucial elements of a CEO are leadership skills, vision and empowering others. He considers this role as pivotal for any company to move forward and face constant challenges and change. Zahra J.F.X., Lessons from the Asian crisis: Turning uncertainty into Market Advantage. Globalisation policies, strategies & partnerships, Commonwealth Business Forum, Edited Papers, Commonwealth Business Council, 2000.