From Scorekeeper to Strategic Decision-Maker: The Changing Role of a CFO with Mark Freedman
The CFO PlaybookShow Notes
In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Mark Freedman to explore the changing landscape of finance leadership, from crash to AI and beyond. Mark started his career at Deutsche Bank before moving onto London Stock Exchange Group. Over three decades in the finance sector, he’s proved himself to be a transformational force ready to face down the challenges of a digital finance age. Now in post as CFO of global money brand Travelex, Mark has been instrumental in making strategic decisions, providing steadfast resilience through a challenging era, following a much publicised cyber incident at the start of 2020. Despite the negative headlines, Mark's tenure has embraced opportunities for growth. Empathising the strength of Travelex's brand and its extensive physical distribution network as key assets, Mark has faced questions about the relevance of “travel money” head on. Highlighting the evergreen resilience of cash and the growth potential of digital cards, his current role has pivoted Mark from scorekeeper to decision-maker, with a deep understanding of business - using effective communication, and staying up-to-date with technology. About Soldo: Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what. Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient. To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Chapters: 0:05:07 - Career Transition Reflections and Growth 0:09:03 - Career Progression in Banking Industry 0:15:04 - Era of Financial Innovation 0:18:25 - Finance Transformation Opportunity 0:22:52 - Business Journey Through Turbulent Times 0:34:25 - Future of Travel Money Changes 0:42:24 - Evolution of the CFO Role
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