My professional objective is:'To contribute positively towards the strategic direction and governance of businesses, by intersecting experience, practice and theory based on my 3Rs - Researching, Reflecting, and Reacting.’My profile and achievementsA Certified Public Accountant with a post-graduate MSc in Finance (Leicester UK), I spent twenty-seven years working in public practice both within the Big 4 in Malta and Italy, and in a mid-tier accountancy firm which I co-founded and managed since 1990. In 2007 I exited the firm to contribute more in the strategic direction of companies through www.FrancoAzzopardi.com. I specialise in corporate strategy, governance and finance. I feel I bring energy to corporate and business ideas. As CEO of the leader in Logistics in Malta, my target was to put logistics among the respected economic sectors through becoming a role model company based on corporate culture, technology-driven efficiency in operations, and in thought leadership. My strategy is typically investing in framework, structure and management, toward a ready-to-list corporation. The expedition sets sail with corporate governance, financial, and capital restructuring, human capital growth, capacity building, a focus on finding the equilibrium of value for all stakeholders, with a built-to-last corporate structure.Another one of my successful initiatives was the culture change of a legacy institution owning an old traditional newspaper with declining circulation, ‘il-Gens’, to an online successful technology-based news portal, ‘Newsbook’, now one of the leading news portals.In the nineties, I pioneered and was a national influence among SMPs, in the transformation of paper-based financial statement production, to fully automated technology driven production.I am also a professional director, registered as a Fellow member of the UK Institute of Directors. As part of my contribution to social responsibility I also supported the development of the Malta Institute of Accountants where I have served on the Council for 12 years and occupied the post of President for the maximum tenure of 2 years. Recognised milestone: “Worked hard to promote ethics and integrity during a period where the local profession was going through a challenging time.”Founder of Traditional Karate in Malta, coached a gold and a silver medalist in the Europeans. I myself placed 6th in the World Championships.Qualities: Trusted advisor, Visionary strategist, Deal negotiator, Business modelling, Corporate Governance, Finance.