Finding the person who holds the purse strings at a global organization isn't always as straightforward as a LinkedIn search. When you start digging into the finance director of UIM International, you quickly realize you aren't looking at one monolithic corporate tower. You're looking at a few very different worlds that share a confusingly similar acronym.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess for the uninitiated.
Depending on who you ask, UIM stands for the world of high-speed powerboat racing, a massive international missionary network, or even a specialized niche in the maritime shipping industry. Each one has a "finance director" or a CFO, but their days look nothing alike. One might be worrying about fuel subsidies for a race in Dubai, while the other is balancing the books for a remote school in Mexico.
The Powerboat Powerhouse: Union Internationale Motonautique
If you’re here because you follow the adrenaline-fueled world of water sports, the finance director of UIM International (the Union Internationale Motonautique) is a pivotal figure. Based in Monaco, this UIM is the IOC-recognized world governing body for all powerboating.
As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the financial oversight of this organization falls under the remit of the Treasurer and the Executive Committee. Christer Gustafsson has long been the name associated with the treasury here.
It’s a high-stakes job.
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They aren't just counting pennies. They’re managing global promoter contracts, environmental sustainability grants, and the complex flow of dues from 60+ national federations. When a new race series like the E1 electric boat league launches, the finance team has to ensure the regulatory fees and "solidarity funds" actually make sense on a balance sheet.
The Mission Field: UIM International (United Indian Missions)
Then there’s the other UIM. This one is a non-profit powerhouse headquartered in the United States, focused on ministry and aviation. For them, the "finance director" role is often titled as a Treasurer or a Business Manager, working directly under Executive Director Dan P. Fredericks.
Managing money here is a different beast entirely.
- Donor-based accounting: Every cent has to be tracked to specific projects across Canada, Mexico, and the US.
- Aviation costs: They run a fleet of planes. Anyone in finance knows that "aviation" and "cheap" never appear in the same sentence.
- Cross-border compliance: Moving funds into Mexico or Cuba requires a level of regulatory hoop-jumping that would make most corporate accountants quit on the spot.
Basically, if you’re looking for the person managing the millions for these mission fields, you’re looking at a team that prioritizes transparency over profit margins.
The Shipping Giant: Union Maritime
To make things even more confusing for Google, there is Union Maritime, often abbreviated as UIM in shipping circles. This is a massive player in the tanker and dry bulk world. If this is the "UIM" you’re after, the man in the hot seat is Michael Kotsapas, the Chief Financial Officer.
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Kotsapas has been a regular fixture at events like Marine Money Week Asia. In late 2025, he was famously discussing how to finance a $2 billion green orderbook.
Think about that scale.
He’s not just managing a budget; he’s navigating the transition of a global fleet to "green" energy. We’re talking about massive credit facilities, interest rate swaps, and the sheer bravery required to bet billions on the future of maritime fuel. It’s arguably one of the most intense finance roles in the transport sector right now.
Why the Finance Director Role is Changing in 2026
Regardless of which UIM you’re tracking, the job of a finance director has morphed. It’s no longer just about the "close" at the end of the month.
Software like NetSuite and specialized AI-driven forecasting tools have automated the boring stuff. Now, the finance director of UIM International—whichever one we mean—is more of a strategist. They have to predict how carbon taxes will hit a shipping fleet or how a shift in global currency values will impact a missionary’s stipend in a remote village.
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Nuance is everything.
You’ve got to be part lawyer, part data scientist, and part diplomat. In the powerboat world, for instance, the finance director has to balance the "old guard" of petrol-heavy racing with the massive capital requirements of the new "Solar & Electric" divisions.
What You Should Actually Look For
If you are trying to contact or study the leadership at these organizations, don’t just blast an email to a generic "finance@" address. You need to be specific:
- For Sports/Governance: Look for the UIM (Monaco) Treasurer or the Executive Committee minutes. They are surprisingly transparent about their yearly congress reports.
- For Non-Profit/Missionary work: Check the Form 990 filings for UIM International. It’s public record in the US, and it lists exactly who is getting paid what.
- For Maritime: Follow the "Marine Money" circuit. That’s where the big CFOs like Kotsapas actually speak their minds.
Honestly, the "Finance Director" isn't just a title anymore; it's the person who decides if a project lives or dies. Whether it's a new church in a tribal land or a $50 million hydrofoil race boat, nothing moves until the finance office says the numbers work.
Next Steps for You:
If you're researching this for a career move or a business partnership, your next move should be to pull the Audited Financial Statements for the specific UIM entity you're interested in. For the sporting UIM, these are often available to member federations, while the missionary UIM's 990 forms can be found on sites like GuideStar or Charity Navigator. This will give you the real story that a LinkedIn profile never could.