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From a tactical perspective, activists have the ultimate advantage. You can choose whether and when to run your campaign. Inevitably, they will be ready when they choose to launch. Meanwhile, the targeted companies begin the campaign with a defensive stance. Therefore, it is paramount that companies properly prepare for activism before the arrival of activists to level the tactical playing field. strategy The best defense against shareholder activism is a clear strategy that is clearly explained to shareholders, skillfully executed, and evidenced by financial and operating results. When considering important strategic and operational decisions, it is often helpful to consider…
Werner, USAA, First Command, RecruitMilitary and Scrum were recognized today as winners of the 7th Annual Patriots in Business Awards for their leadership in supporting America's veterans, active duty military and military spouses. Ta. This award is given every year chief executive officer The magazine and Thayer Leadership are part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness among corporate leaders about best practices to support these important communities. The awards ceremony, in partnership with Nasdaq MarketSite, will take place at the 12th Annual Veterans Day event in New York City on November 11th. This year's Patriots in Business Awards are…
In 2018, Marie Myers left HP after a decade and a half to become CFO of RPA software company UiPath. Although her stay was only one year, the detour was pivotal to her career journey. Myers began working with several programmers on the “frontier” of AI and RPA. “It gave me a better context and awareness of technology and the role that AI and digital transformation play within the enterprise,” said Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), now a spin-off server, storage, cloud and networking company. Myers, CFO of ). It exited HP's PC and printer business nearly a decade ago. After…
External hiring of CFOs at large publicly traded companies reached the highest level in a decade this year, with 44% of finance chief positions filled by external talent. Many CFOs enter the organization, and sometimes the industry, with a cold attitude. A recent high-profile example is Jim Lee, who worked for PepsiCo for 26 years and was named CFO of Target. While climbing an organization's corporate ladder before becoming a CFO is invaluable, work experience across multiple companies and industries is equally valuable. A finance executive with experience in the latter is Arthur Carrier, finance director at edtech company Ziplines…
The level of shareholder activism in the United States is near an all-time high. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, more than 150 new or incremental positions were created by activist investors. In addition to this, we are likely to see more accumulation by broker-dealers. Dissidents continue to use the threat of proxy fights to encourage mergers and acquisitions that oust CEOs, destabilize companies, and force breakups. At the same time, activist tactics have become more aggressive, less predictable, and riskier all year round. Campaigns are increasingly targeting individual directors, and no board or company is immune in this…
Who drives the strategy?In most companies with board members we surveyed, the head of technology (38%) is responsible for driving the GenAI strategy, but 32% believe everyone in the organization understands the value and potential of GenAI. They say they have a responsibility to clarify certain areas. A significant number of companies (15%) have formed teams focused on driving their GenAI strategy.“As companies continue their AI journey, it is important that boards and executives know how to oversee this technology, its applications, and possible risks,” said the study's partners. says Dottie Schindlinger, executive director of the Diligent Institute.Sonita Lontoh, an…
As Botrista's CFO, my days are focused on growth. Over the past year, we have grown from an ambitious startup to a prominent market leader in data-driven beverage automation. With the recent completion of our Series C funding, we are poised to grow at an even faster rate. This journey has been both a challenge and a distinct career reward, providing valuable insight into the complexities of scaling a business in the competitive food technology industry. Efficient scaling is a special challenge where compromises, trade-offs, and value discovery combat the goal of growth at all costs. Regardless of your role,…
In this episode, Jack McCullough sits down with Simon Edwards, CFO of Conga, to discuss the dynamic role of the CFO in today’s business environment. Edwards shares how he leverages his background in technology and engineering to drive financial strategy and growth at Conga, a leader in revenue lifecycle management. Tune in to discover insights on career development, operational efficiency and the critical relationship between the CEO and CFO in steering company success. — Listen to the podcast here Introduction To Simon Edwards And Conga Everybody, welcome to the show. You can follow us online at RockStarCFOs.com. We have a…
Editor’s note: Longtime Chief Executive columnist Jonathan Byrnes passed away on May 7 at age 75 after a long and valiant fight against cancer. The MIT professor, consultant and cofounder of Profit Isle was a brilliant mind, thoughtful businessperson—and kind man. We will miss him. This is the final column that he submitted to us before his passing. *** In a Chief Executive column, “How to Price and Manage Value-added Services,” I explained how to price and manage lucrative, strategically important value-added services. The article generated a lot of interest. In this column, I describe how to develop compelling, high-payoff value-added services and illustrate…
This session will provide board members with practical strategies for overseeing AI governance. drawing from Athena Alliance AI Governance Handbook; Explore how to build effective oversight, ask tough questions of management, and assess the integrity of your AI efforts. Gain practical insights on balancing innovation and risk management, ensuring ethical AI adoption, and fostering a culture of responsible AI use across your organization.Key discussion topics:Building effective AI surveillanceImportant questions for business owners and how they can prepareSituational awareness and risk intelligenceFostering a culture of responsible AISix Monthly Updates: Emerging trends, best practices, and lessons learned since the handbook was published.…