Liquid: How CFOs Outperform

Insights from the Other Side of the Fence: How Banks Really Operate

Episode Summary

In this episode, Tom talks with seasoned finance leader Russell Haley, former CFO and Treasurer for Europe and Asia at Cantor Fitzgerald and former Treasurer at BGC Group. Together, they explore how the treasury function has evolved from ledgers and manual systems to AI and automation, and what today’s CFOs can learn from that transformation.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Tom Gavaghan sits down with Russell Haley, a finance veteran who’s navigated everything from manual ledgers to global treasury crises. Russell shares lessons from his early career starting at 18 in London’s financial sector through his leadership roles at major institutions.

He discusses the value of apprenticeships and non-traditional career paths, the lessons learned from corporate failures, and the tension between automation and understanding. 

Guest Quote:

• “People trust the computer—they assume it must be right. But it can only use the information it’s given, and that information can be wrong. Having an instinct for what the figures should be is invaluable.”

Links & Resources:

Connect with Tom Gavaghan: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasgavaghan/

Connect with Russell Haley: 

linkedin.com/in/russell-haley-58676311/?skipRedirect=true

Learn more about Kyriba: 

https://www.kyriba.com