Chief Financial Officer at Stellantis Insurance
Joanne Coldman, Chief Financial Officer at Stellantis Insurance, has built a distinguished career in finance that spans more than two decades. She began her career in 1986 as an Accounts/Underwriting Clerk at a local insurance broker, where she gained early exposure to insurance operations, controls and the foundations of the insurance business. She subsequently progressed through various finance positions, gaining broad business management experience across multiple functions.
After taking a nine-year career break to raise her two children, she resumed her professional career and joined a multinational aviation company as Finance Executive. In this role, she helped set up the finance function for a new startup entity in Malta. Establishing financial systems from scratch within a global group was a formative challenge, expanding both her technical expertise and her global business perspective.
In 2009, Joanne moved to Stellantis Insurance during its own startup phase, taking on the role of Chief Accountant. Over the following years, she advanced to Finance Project Manager and, since 2016, has served as Chief Financial Officer. Growing with the company from inception gave her an unparalleled depth of institutional knowledge and strategic insight. Alongside practical experience, she also invested in professional development, earning a Certificate in Management Accounting from CIMA and maintaining PQ’d status with the Malta Financial Services Authority.
As CFO, Joanne now oversees the financial performance of six companies within Stellantis Insurance’s Malta Business Unit, while also contributing to global insurance operations across Stellantis Financial Services. Her remit includes multi-entity financial reporting, regulatory compliance with the MFSA, and coordination with international stakeholders. The dual responsibility requires understanding of different regulatory environments and the ability to align local and global financial strategies. What she values most, however is guiding and developing her team: “Seeing people grow, take on new challenges, and succeed is deeply rewarding. Mentorship is one of the most fulfilling aspects of leadership.”
The Insurance industry, she explains, comes with unique opportunities and challenges. Unlike many industries, it involves dealing with future uncertainties and long-term liabilities. Regulatory frameworks such as Solvency II and IFRS 17 demand robust systems, extensive training, and constant adaptation. For Joanne, the challenge lies in balancing dual responsibilities: full regulatory compliance for Malta operations and strategic financial oversight for global activities. This requires understanding diverse jurisdictions and ensuring accurate consolidation for group reporting.
Reflecting on her journey, Joanne notes that certain moments in her career stand out as particularly formative. While her first role in insurance laid the groundwork for understanding the sector, her aviation experience gave her an international and startup mindset. At Stellantis, progressing through the ranks allowed her to take on strategic responsibility at each stage of growth.
When it comes to leading a finance team, Joanne believes that being approachable and a good listener are key to effective leadership. She strives to create an environment where team members feel heard and understand how their work connects to the broader business objectives. Innovation and problem-solving are encouraged, while professional development is actively supported through training, qualifications and project opportunities. “A team thrives when individuals see the bigger picture and feel empowered to contribute,” she says.
For accountants aspiring to reach senior roles, Joanne highlights the development of several key skills. Beyond strong technical knowledge, she encourages developing business acumen, cross-functional collaboration, international exposure, and proficiency in technology, especially financial modelling, analytics, and the ability to explain financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders. Embracing challenges, even outside one’s comfort zone, she believes, builds the versatility needed at senior level.
Looking forward, Joanne sees the CFO role becoming more strategic and technology driven. Automation and digital transformation are reshaping finance, shifting the focus from transactional and compliance work to forward-looking insight, scenario planning and risk management. Modern CFOs are also expected to collaborate across functions, from IT to operations and marketing.
Joanne believes that accountancy is a career full of opportunities to grow, learn and make a real difference. Beyond technical skills, it’s about understanding the business, embracing challenges, and adding value wherever it counts. She concludes by saying that for her, the profession is not just about numbers; rather it’s about making an impact, building relationships and helping businesses succeed in today’s dynamic world.