Chat CFO

Why do ERP programmes feel so painful, even when they are meant to make things better?

In this episode of Chat CFO, we sit down with Gareth Bennett, Finance Transformation Lead at News UK, and John Ashworth, Finance Transformation Director at The Crown Estate. 

Gareth and John share their experiences from the sharp end of ERP and finance transformation. They talk openly about what goes wrong before and after go-live and how leaders keep momentum when programmes run for years rather than months. The episode explores ERP as a business change problem, with honest reflections on accountability and what finance leaders need to get right if change is going to stick.

Chat CFO is supported by Unity Advisory - https://unity-advisory.com/ 

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Chapters + Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet the guests and why ERP divides opinion
01:13 – Is ERP dead or just misunderstood?
03:48 – Data is the real prize in modern ERP
04:15 – What must be true before starting ERP
06:29 – The danger of trying to deliver everything at once
09:35 – Why design sign-off is harder than it sounds
12:28 – Change management that actually works
17:38 – Change fatigue and leadership pressure
23:58 – Who should sponsor ERP, CFO or CTO?
28:19 – One partner or many?
50:01 – One piece of advice before your first ERP programme

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About Our Guests:

Gareth is a finance transformation leader with experience working inside fast-moving, high-profile organisations. At News UK, he has been closely involved in modernising finance platforms and ways of working. 

His background combines strong financial foundations with hands-on delivery of large system change, helping finance teams move away from manual effort and towards operational confidence that supports the wider business.

You can connect with Gareth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethcbennett/

John is a senior finance transformation leader with a track record of leading complex, enterprise-wide change. His experience spans large, regulated organisations where finance, technology, and operating models intersect at scale. 

At The Crown Estate, he is responsible for delivering finance transformation that supports a diverse portfolio of assets and long-term national value creation. 

You can connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-ashworth/

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About Chat CFO:

Chat CFO is a podcast featuring honest conversations with CFOs, COOs, and CEOs about the decisions that impact businesses. The focus is on what leadership looks like in practice, including what worked, what didn’t, and what leaders learned along the way.

Produced by STOIX, Chat CFO is proudly supported by Unity Advisory as headline sponsor. Together, STOIX and Unity Advisory share a focus on creating space for experience-led conversations that go beyond surface-level commentary.

With Unity Advisory on board, the podcast continues to expand its reach across the C-suite. 

Chat CFO is for CFOs, aspiring CEOs, and finance leaders who want insight from people who have been there, made the decisions, and lived with the outcomes.

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About our hosts:

This episode of Chat CFO is hosted by Neil French and Carolyn Cole.

Neil is the Co-Founder of STOIX. Over the last 19+ years, he’s worked closely with leaders across interim and permanent mandates, often in moments of transition: new ownership, new strategy, broken teams, or first-time leadership hires. He works with CFOs, CEOs and investors navigating scale, complexity and change, typically in PE-backed, VC-backed, listed or founder-led environments.&nbs

What does it really mean to be the CFO of a national sport, where decisions are public and trade offs are unavoidable?

In this episode of Chat CFO, we sit down with Nimesh Kataria, CFO at the England and Wales Cricket Board, to talk about the reality of leading finance inside a national institution.


Nimesh opens up about his move from media and broadcast into sport, the change from operating within a global matrix to taking full ownership, and what it means to balance financial rigour with safeguarding the future of cricket.

This conversation was filmed ahead of the Ashes series, which Nimesh references during the discussion, before the outcome of the tour was known.

We get into:
- What it’s really like being CFO of England’s national sport
- Moving from global media into full financial ownership at the ECB
- Making investment decisions without endless cash
- How finance leaders should approach AI and technology adoption
- Managing accountability, pressure, scrutiny, and long term responsibility


 

Chapters and Timestamps:
00:00 – What it means to be CFO of England’s national sport
01:06 – Nimesh’s journey into finance and media
03:16 – Leaving EY and choosing roles with purpose
05:10 – Building a career through opportunity, risk, and relationships
07:14 – Commercial finance, influence, and stakeholder management
08:50 – Career highlights from global media and sport broadcasting
10:37 – Leadership lessons, risk taking, and trust
13:30 – Moving from a matrix organisation to full ownership at the ECB
15:51 – Learning fast, leaning on networks, and adapting quickly
17:29 – Passion, accountability, and choosing the ECB role
19:37 – Balancing financial discipline with sporting values
21:42 – AI, technology, and the future of the finance function
24:18 – Collaboration across sport and governing bodies
26:14 – Accountability, preparation, and board confidence
29:01 – Shifting from reporting to long term strategy
33:21 – The future CFO pipeline and evolving finance careers
39:33 – Work, priorities, and managing personal trade offs
42:43 – Advice for aspiring CFOs and closing reflections

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About our guest 

Nimesh Kataria is Chief Financial Officer at the England & Wales Cricket Board, where he leads finance alongside responsibility for procurement and technology. Before joining the ECB, Nimesh spent over 15 years in media and broadcast, including senior leadership roles at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he served as CFO of the International Sports Division, overseeing Eurosport across EMEA and the TNT Sports joint venture with BT, as well as Finance Director for the UK business.

Nimesh brings deep experience across commercial finance, end to end M&A, large scale transformation, and stakeholder management at board and executive level.  

You can connect with Nimesh on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimesh-kataria-369b8b26/

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About Chat CFO 

The Chat CFO podcast gives you insights from CFOs, COOs, and CEOs behind some of the most meaningful business decisions in recent years. 

Listen to honest conversations from leaders about what worked, what didn't, and what it really takes to lead when it matters most. 

Find more episodes and conversations with finance leaders on Chat CFO.  

https://www.youtube.com/@stoixChatCFO

In this episode of Chat CFO, we sit down with Mark Buckley, former CEO of Perfect Moment, to talk through what it takes to get a business listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Mark shares the full story behind taking a loss-making, private equity backed consumer brand through a US IPO, after exhausting every other funding route. We talk openly about the pressure, the fundraising reality, the time away from family, and the things no one really prepares you for.

Beyond the initial public offering, we also get into Mark’s journey from big corporate environments like Marks & Spencer and Burberry, into private equity backed SMEs, and eventually stepping into a CEO role unexpectedly. There are honest reflections on leadership, investments, resilience, career trade-offs, and why slowing down has become a priority in his next chapter.

If you’re a CFO, finance leader, founder, or investor curious about IPOs, private equity, or the jump from corporate into smaller businesses, there’s a lot here that will resonate.

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About our guest 

Mark is a CEO and CFO with over 25 years of adaptive leadership, driving significant growth and transformation across global luxury and omni-channel retail. His career spans established FTSE corporates like Burberry and Marks & Spencer, as well as successful Private Equity backed and founder-led brands such as Perfect Moment and Rapha. 

You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdbuckley/

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About Chat CFO 

The Chat CFO podcast gives you insights from CFOs, COOs, and CEOs behind some of the most meaningful business decisions in recent years. 

Listen to honest conversations from leaders about what worked, what didn't, and what it really takes to lead when it matters most. 

Find more episodes and conversations with finance leaders on Chat CFO.  

https://www.youtube.com/@stoixChatCFO

In this episode of Chat CFO, Benyam Hagos, CFO at Form3, explains how a CFO in a FinTech needs to think and act more like a commercial partner than a traditional finance lead. 

He talks about shaping the story of the business for investors, pushing for new markets, and treating growth conversations with the same energy and intent you would usually see from a sales leader. It is a view developed from years working in audit and a clear understanding of the pressure that comes with venture backed expectations.

Benyam covers: 

• How he builds trust and rhythm with a CEO during a period of rapid scale 
• The practical habits that help him stay organised and avoid constant overload 
• What remote leadership looks like inside a global finance team 
• Why he took on a non-executive role and how it changed the way he shows up in boardrooms
  
  

Benyam also shares the personal experiences that influenced the way he works, from finding mentors who could stretch him in the right ways to recognising the early signs of burnout and building healthier boundaries that allow longevity rather than short bursts of performance.

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About our Guest

Benyam has over 17 years of experience in the finance and payments industry and he is currently the CFO at Form3 as well as the Chairman and NED for Trust Payments.

Connect with Benyam on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyam-hagos-b2782790/


About Chat CFO

The Chat CFO podcast gives you insights from CFOs, COOs, and CEOs behind some of the most meaningful business decisions in recent years.

Listen to honest conversations from leaders about what worked, what didn't, and what it really takes to lead when it matters most.

Find more episodes and conversations with business leaders on Chat CFO. 

https://www.youtube.com/@stoixChatCFO

In this episode of Chat CFO, Tom Platford, fractional CFO to early-stage startups, shares his journey on scaling SuperAwesome from Series A to exit, and what he learned along the way.

Tom reflects on the toughest moments of his journey, including managing a nine-figure acquisition deal and why being an expert generalist is no longer optional.

Tom covers:

•The difference between early and late-stage CFO roles
•When and how to bring in a fractional CFO
•Why future finance teams will include AI agents
•The importance of storytelling, design thinking, and failure in CFO leadership

Tom also shares personal reflections on burnout and the habits that keep him grounded through high-pressure moments.

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About our guest

Tom is a CFO with over 12 years of experience in startups and knows the challenges founders face when navigating a business to an exit. He now helps founders build shareholder value and achieve a successful exit.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasplatford/

About Chat CFO

The Chat CFO podcast gives you insights from CFOs, COOs, and CEOs behind some of the most meaningful business decisions in recent years. 

Listen to honest conversations from leaders about what worked, what didn't, and what it really takes to lead when it matters most.

Find more episodes and conversations with finance leaders on Chat CFO.

https://www.youtube.com/@stoixChatCFO

What happens when someone who scaled technical hiring at Google starts rethinking what good leadership looks like in private equity?

In this episode of Chat CFO, Jenny Collins, Head of Talent at Faraday Partners and former Google and PE Chief Talent Officer, shares her take on what great hiring really looks like. She talks about her years in global tech and what she learned about culture from watching it either thrive or disappear depending on who was paying attention.

We get into:

🧭 Why cognitive diversity at the top table is more than a tick box
💬 What Google taught her about building teams that last
🔍 Why AI isn't replacing recruitment but making the human parts more important
💡 How private equity can borrow from venture and vice versa
🤝 The real value of referencing, psychometrics, and behavioural data in hiring

If you're shaping teams in high-growth or high-pressure environments, or you're just curious how someone blends empathy, rigour and data into HR at the sharpest end of business, this one’s for you.

#ExecutiveHiring #TechLeadership #PrivateEquity #ChatCFO

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
06:08 - The evolution of AI
08:53 - AI's impact on employment and talent acquisition
12:03 - Navigating executive hiring
14:58 - Cultural differences in leadership
17:59 - Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
23:33 - Strategic hiring for company growth
25:04 - Differences between VC and Private Equity
32:10 - The role of references in hiring
34:05 - Balancing skills and Cultural Fit in Hiring
41:00 - Optimising the interview process and hiring experience
48:01 - The role of AI in recruitment
55:06 - Future trends in talent acquisition

What happens when a bold COO questions how conscious consumerism really works?

In this episode, Shonagh Primrose, Chief Operating Officer at Wylde Market, rips apart the rules of growth and reveals how to build a purpose-led platform without bowing to the noisy short-term pressures of venture investors.

We get into:

🌱 Why slow commerce might be the most radical growth strategy yet
⚡ The tough trade-offs every COO faces in the fight between mission and margin
🧩 How to build brand trust in a world wired for instant gratification
💥 The surprising power of friction in a customer experience

If you’re wrestling with how to scale a values-led business or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at the hard choices no one talks about, this conversation is honest, human, and worth every minute.

🎧 Tune in and tell us: Would you choose slower, sustainable growth if it meant protecting your values?

Discover more in this episode:

00:00 - Introduction & background
03:08 - Insights from Shonagh's experience
06:02 - The role of coaching and mentorship
09:04 - Understanding coaching vs mentorship vs therapy
11:47 - Creating safe spaces for difficult conversations
14:59 - The importance of different perspectives
17:55 - Balancing vulnerability and tough decisions in leadership
30:50 - Hiring for diversity fit
37:33 - Navigating different organisational sizes
43:35 - Career strategies for new graduates
50:58 - The importance of networking
55:50 - Career planning and flexibility

What does it really take to lead finance in one of the world’s most fast-paced and complex tech companies without following the traditional path?

In this episode, Katie Brewis, Strategy & Commercial Finance Director at Google, shares her journey from economist to strategy consultant, and now to leading finance across Google’s EMEA marketing organisation.

We get into:

🐬 The leadership mindset that helps navigate both big-picture strategy and day-to-day detail
🧠 How AI is reshaping finance work and why core skills still matter
📊 What effective collaboration between finance and marketing actually looks like
♻️ How Katie brought her interest in sustainability into her day job

Whether you are stepping into leadership, thinking about your next move, or simply curious about how finance operates at scale, this episode is full of practical insight and straight-talking advice.

🎧 Listen now and tell us: What part of the CFO skillset do you think is changing fastest?

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
03:04 - Navigating the Fast-Paced World of Google
06:04 - The Importance of Sustainability in Business
08:57 - Understanding the Role of a CFO in 2025
12:09 - Leadership Lessons and Collaborative Styles
14:58 - The Impact of AI on Finance and Marketing
24:36 - Navigating Skills in an AI-Driven World
27:26 - AI's Role in Sustainability and Climate Change
28:14 - The Future of Energy Solutions
30:04 - Challenges of Remote Team Management
35:40 - Leadership Lessons from Mentors
40:24 - The Intersection of Marketing and Finance
45:31 - Advice for Aspiring CFOs

Vineta Bajaj didn’t follow a traditional path to the top – and she’s not shy about saying so.

Now Group CFO at Rohlik Group, Vineta shares the unfiltered story behind her rise, from teaching piano and side-trading during uni, to leading billion-euro businesses and rewriting what it means to lead in finance.

This episode is packed with bold moves, real career talk, and the kind of lessons you don’t get in textbooks.

We cover:
🎹 How Vineta turned “random” side skills into career-defining moments
📣 What happens when you challenge your FD and go straight to the CFO
🤖 Why AI is changing the size and shape of finance teams
🍕💻🚋 And how obsessing over pizzas, laptops and trams is actually leadership

For anyone aiming higher, moving faster, or building something big – this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for.

#CFOJourney #FutureOfFinance #LeadershipMindset #AIandFinance #STOIX

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
03:03 - Career Path: From Aspirations to Realities
05:51 - Education and Early Experiences
09:00 - Navigating the Corporate Landscape
15:09 - Strategic Career Moves
18:01 - The Transition to CFO
20:56 - Leadership and Decision Making
23:47 - Reflections on Achievements
38:43 - Exploring Capacity and Personal Growth
41:16 - The Importance of Mentorship and Support
45:06 - Leveraging AI in Finance
56:25 - The Evolving Role of CFOs in a Tech-Driven World
01:00:18 - Navigating Challenges and Building Relationships

What does it really take to lead a private equity-backed business through growth, exit, and transformation while staying true to your leadership style?

In this episode, Stephan Burow, CFO at Lintbells, shares his journey from Unilever to high-growth scaleups like Gousto, and now to leading finance, tech, and people at a purpose-driven pet wellness company.

We dive into:

🧠 The mindset shift required to thrive as a PE-backed CFO

⏱  Why pace, 80/20 thinking, and intentional time management are make-or-break

🤝 How Stephan builds high-performance, people-first cultures

🧩 Secrets to handling exits and investor pressure

🐾 Why purpose matters

Whether you’re an aspiring CFO, in the middle of a scaleup journey, or leading through a private equity transaction, this episode is packed with insights and best of all - refreshing honesty.

🎧 Listen now and tell us: What’s the hardest part of leading in a PE-backed environment?

Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Background

02:00 – From Unilever to Scaleups

06:00 – Why Pace & Impact Matter

10:00 – Gusto, Growth & the 80/20 Rule

14:00 – Transitioning to CFO in PE

20:00 – Managing Investors & Exit Process

26:00 – AI, Finance & the Future

30:00 – Leadership, Mentorship & Culture

38:00 – Broadening the CFO Role

45:00 – Risks, Cybersecurity & What Keeps Him Up

48:30 – Legacy, Purpose & Final Advice