Sovereign Pension Services granted Occupational Scheme Licence in Malta

Sovereign Pension Services (SPS) Limited in Malta has been granted an occupational scheme licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority. Following the success of our occupational scheme products in Gibraltar, we are looking to expand into the Maltese market and we anticipate a launch in mid-2020.

Our selected partners have proven track records in providing investment management and custody services in the sphere of occupational schemes, and we have no doubt that the product will be the first of its kind in Malta and an excellent addition to Sovereign’s existing array of corporate retirement planning solutions.

SPS is also delighted to announce Cristina Cassar Difesa’s appointment as managing director of the pensions arm of the business. Her appointment was a natural progression given the growth and evolution of Sovereign’s pensions operation in Malta.

Stephen Griffiths, who initially established Sovereign’s pension operations in Malta, has stepped aside to focus on his role as managing director of Sovereign Trust (Malta), although he will continue as a director of SPS.

Cristina joined Sovereign in 2012 after graduating from the London School of Economics with a BSc in Business. She helped to oversee the set-up of the pensions team in Malta and has played a key role in managing the growth of the business together with Stephen. SPS now has more than £600 million of assets under administration and a growing book of business.

Cristina was appointed as Operations Director in 2017 and has successfully steered the business through the regulatory challenges imposed both by HMRC and the Maltese government in recent years. Her appointment as MD is a testament to her leadership skills and technical knowledge.