How do you build a finance organization that fuels rapid scale without losing agility and clarity of purpose?

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Liz Kistruck, Chief Financial Officer at Motorway, the UK’s largest consumer to dealer used car marketplace and one of the country’s fastest-growing unicorns. Liz shares how Motorway has transformed a fragmented offline industry into a digital platform that creates value for both sellers and dealers, and how the company is preparing for its next chapter as it approaches profitability.

Listeners will hear Liz break down the CFO remit inside a high-growth scale up, from saying yes faster with confidence to knowing when to pump the brakes. She explains the discipline required to avoid the trap of doing too much, why organizations should only pursue slam dunk initiatives and how finance can be a force for clarity, conviction and forward momentum rather than the office of no.

We also explore the evolution of hybrid work, scaling communication muscles as companies grow, the realities of navigating regulation as a disruptive business model and the mindset needed to push through uncertainty. Liz reflects on her path from engineering jet engines to building finance functions at Expedia, fashion marketplaces and now Motorway, sharing insights on problem solving, leading change and staying curious across an entire business.

Liz’s contribution to the CFO Playbook centers on the power of confident decision making. Her guiding principle If it has to be now, it has to be no helps finance leaders resist pressure, create space for better choices and lead with calm clarity.

Download our checklist, The future belongs to adaptable finance leaders.

How do you build a finance function that can plan and pivot at the speed of change?

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Hemant Kapadia, Chief Financial Officer at Anaplan, the connected planning platform used by enterprises across finance, sales, supply chain and workforce planning. Hemant shares how Anaplan’s AI-driven calculation engine and new purpose-built applications help leaders model scenarios, understand ripple effects across the business and make confident decisions faster.

Listeners will hear how Hemant runs finance with a daily close mindset, translating shifts in pipeline into real-time visibility on bookings, billings, EBITDA and cash flow. He explains his dual role as an internal operator and external advisor to customer CFOs, and why connecting teams to both operational metrics and long-term impact is central to his remit. We also unpack the current state of AI in the enterprise, from the hype to the practical point solutions that are starting to deliver value, plus the data orchestration and governance needed to avoid noisy outcomes and protect trust.

Hemant’s career story moves from engineering microelectronics for the F-35 to GE’s audit staff and through low-margin manufacturing, product, services, FP&A and more. He reflects on building range by leaving your comfort zone, the power of mentors, making decisions with imperfect information and why finance teams should be in the boat rowing with the business, not watching from the pier.

Download our checklist, The CFO’s AI checklist: six practical steps

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What role should finance play when artificial intelligence is reshaping the way global businesses operate?

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Riccardo Calliano, VP Finance, GenAI Commercial Investments at GSK, to explore how AI is transforming finance and business decision-making. With a career spanning Europe, the US, China and beyond, Riccardo has built a reputation for leading finance teams through transformation while staying focused on value creation.

Listeners will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI at scale, from driving productivity and compliance to unlocking real-time insights that fuel commercial outcomes. Riccardo shares why traditional ways of measuring ROI don’t always apply in the age of AI, and why CFOs must move beyond being guardians of value to become true drivers of innovation.

Our conversation also looks at leadership and career development. Riccardo reflects on his own journey from finance roles across multiple markets to embracing technology head-on, even learning to code in Python in order to bridge the gap between business and tech. His philosophy of investing in “optionality, not certainty” offers lessons for finance leaders navigating change, and he explains why, in his words, “our safety is in our speed.”