Chat CFO – Details, episodes & analysis

We’re very excited to welcome Alex Gersh, most recently, Chief Financial Officer at Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), ex-CFO PaddyPowerBetfair (now Flutter Entertainment) and before, CFO at Sportradar Group to the latest episode of The STOIX Podcast! With over 30 years of diversified international financial experience across technology, consumer, digital, and eCommerce industries, Alex is truly a heavyweight name in the finance world.

In this powerful conversation, Alex shares his deep insights on leadership, success, and navigating career challenges. From the importance of smart hiring and interviewing for success, to embracing failure, taking bold chances, and recognising the role of luck in a career – this episode is packed with useful insights for finance leaders.

If you're looking to improve your hiring strategies or simply get inspired by a seasoned CFO, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcxUM4cQkwU

In this episode, we sit down with Carmela Borrotzu-Evans, Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at Apexx Global, to dive into her career journey and gain invaluable advice for aspiring CFOs. Carmela shares her perspective on how to evaluate if a company or role is the right fit, the importance of having autonomy in your career, and the “green flags” to look for during an interview.

Carmela also offers key advice for professionals preparing to step into their first CFO role, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from her own experience. Whether you're aiming for the C-suite or looking to elevate your finance career, this episode is packed with practical insights and leadership wisdom.

In this episode of the STOIX Podcast, we had an engaging conversation with Ryan Collett, VP of Finance at Causaly.

Ryan talked about his unique career journey to becoming a VP of Finance, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way. We discuss the diverse aspects of individual development and performance and how personal differences impact professional growth. We also touch on the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance as a senior leader.

This episode is packed with valuable advice and food for thought for anyone in finance or leadership within the tech industry.

In our second episode, STOIX Co-founders Rory McDermott and Neil French sat down with Mitesh Velani, a seasoned CFO, entrepreneur, and former CEO across FMCG, Sports & Leisure, Technology, Retail & Property sectors.

This insightful conversation delves into Mitesh's journey from CFO to CEO, highlighting new perspectives and valuable experiences gained during this transition. We also discuss non-conventional career paths and the strength diversifying your professional expertise can bring to any role.

For more expert content on executive search and empowering your business through better hiring stay tuned for our next episode and check out our YouTube channel.

Welcome to the first episode of The STOIX Podcast! In this first episode, STOIX Co-founders Rory and Neil talked with David Brammer, a Talent Acquisition expert and LinkedIn's Top Voice for Global Talent Acquisition & Recruiting. David has an impressive career spanning 15 years in Talent Acquisition, supporting many businesses to build powerful teams across different industries.

The conversation touches on common mistakes businesses make when hiring, optimising hiring strategies and asking the right questions to find the right talent.

For more expert content on executive search and empowering your business through better hiring stay tuned for our next episode and check out our YouTube channel.

Growing up in South East London in the 70s and experiencing overt racism and hatred having been born in Bombay and moving to the UK aged 2.........

A chip on his shoulder, or a flame to get to the top of Finance? 🔥

Getting lucky. 🍀

Making sacrifices. Working all hours of the day and the weekend. 😰

The reality of being a big PLC and Private Equity CFO. 💥

Becoming 'The Saviour' and making the tabloids at M&C Saatchi Group 😇

#podcast #cfo #privateequity #finance

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNKPdS05M0&t=148s

Law, Finance & Sustainability: Aurore Gil's Inspiring Journey 📖

Studied law and finance, then earned her stripes at business school in Paris, and built a remarkable 14-year career in M&A at UBS - all while starting a family.

Aurore’s story didn’t stop there. After stepping away from banking, she pursued sustainability at Cambridge University and went on to drive change as the Investment Director at Cibus Capital LLP. 🚀


In this motivating episode of the STOIX Podcast, we explore:

🗺️ Early career ambitions and the realities of investment banking
⚙️ Leadership challenges and qualities that define success
🚀 Transitioning from IB to private equity and championing ESG
🏋️ Balancing a high-powered career and family life


If you’re in M&A—or aspiring to be—you’ll gain raw, genuine insights from Aurore’s journey. Don’t miss this one! 👇

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRr_4Do480

#MandA #Finance #Motivation #STOIX

We had a lot of fun recording this episode with Mary C., former Managing Director and former Chief Financial Officer at JustPark! With over a decade of diverse financial experience, Mary takes us on her fascinating journey—from jellybean-wrapping to corporate finance to leading in the tech start-up space.

Amid the laughs, you’ll uncover profound insights on:

⚙️ Adapting to a start-up culture with a focus on cash generation and profitability
🚀 Mastering the art of building strong relationships
🏋️ Taking calculated career risks
🌈 The importance of diverse experiences for aspiring CFOs

A huge thank you to Mary for sharing her unique expertise with us!

If you’re looking to refine your hiring strategies or simply draw inspiration from a seasoned CFO, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c1oRwkcY8vc

#FinanceLeadership #CFO #CareerAdvice #SuccessAndFailure #STOIX

Well, this is a unique journey—swapping an outstanding sports career for chartered accountancy. 🏉

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Foster, former SVP of LIV Golf, and and CEO of WinSure Group , whose impressive background spans real estate, corporate finance, and private equity. 💼

What sets Mark apart is his remarkable journey from professional sports to corporate leadership. In this conversation, he shares how lessons from his sports career have shaped his leadership style and resilience. 📖

Mark reflects on how his collegiate sports experience instilled discipline, problem-solving skills, and adaptability under pressure—traits that have been invaluable in his finance career. He also explores how these principles contribute to building strong leadership in today’s competitive corporate world. 🦾

This episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways for leaders aiming to develop resilience and achieve success, both in business and beyond. 🚀

Thank you, Mark Foster, for sharing your unique journey with us.

If you’re in private equity—or aspiring to be—you’ll gain raw, genuine insights from Mark’s story. Don’t miss this one! 👇

📺 Watch here: https://youtu.be/CEar84JkR1E

#CareerSwitch #Sport #Finance #PrivateEquity #STOIX

AI is transforming finance—but how do you cut through the noise and turn data into real impact?

In this episode, Rosanne Werner, CEO of XcelerateIQ, shares her journey from Deloitte to driving data-led transformation at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. She breaks down:

📊 Why finance leaders must master data storytelling
🔄 The AI mindset shift CFOs need to stay ahead
💡 How to bridge the gap between technology and leadership

Her advice? Master the art of storytelling, embrace AI, and never stop learning.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GnbJUynQHno

💬 What’s the biggest challenge you see in AI adoption for finance leaders? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

#CFO #AIinFinance #Leadership #FinanceTransformation #STOIX