GOOD MORNING, CFO
The only newsletter a CFO needs to start the day right. (Made for CFOs who don’t have time to read five newsletters
☕ Here's what smart CFOs read before their first Zoom of the week...
HEADLINES & DEADLINES
U.S Only:
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1- Fraud Isn’t Just a Line Item, It’s a Trillion-Dollar One
ACFE now estimates that fraud costs U.S. organizations about 5% of revenue annually, that’s over $1.3 trillion lost every year.
Spoiler alert: bad guys in suits are thriving.
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2- Cyber Budgets Shrink For First Time in Years
Security no longer makes the cut; cybersecurity budgets grew just 4% in 2025, down from 8% in 2024. That’s the slowest rise in five years, despite hacking threats going bananas.
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3- When Fraud is Smart Enough to Be Quantum-Proof
Quantum computing is no sci-fi anymore; it’s fast approaching a reality where today’s encryption could be cracked by tomorrow. CFOs: upgrade to quantum-resistant defenses before your next audit.
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4- M&A Alert: Bank Consolidation Rumblings Are Back
Talk of regional banks getting swallowed up again has resurfaced as earnings come in. A revived takeover frenzy could be your CFO-level negotiation playground.
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International:
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1. CFO Churn Level: Corporate India Edition
Nearly 70% of CFOs in India leave their roles within 24 months. Looks like no one’s staying on the throne for long, with restructuring and targets tighter than ever.
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2. Diageo Taps Industry Veteran as Interim CFO
Diageo brought back Deirdre Mahlan (its own ex-CFO) to steady the ship, execute cost cuts, and sell assets. Her assignment kicks off August 18, just in time for the board’s “make it work” moment.
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3. Pine Labs Grooms CFO Ahead of IPO
India’s Pine Labs hired Sameer Kamath from Avendus as its new CFO, clearly refreshing the bench before going public. IPO prep doesn’t wait for anyone.
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4. Bayern Munich’s CFO Heads to Better Pastures
FC Bayern CFO Michael Diederich is stepping down on September 30, mid-contract, due to an offer from the business world. If football taught us anything, finance has the same transfer drama.
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5. Telecom Italia Lures Autostrade CFO
Piergiorgio Peluso is leaving Autostrade to retake the CFO seat at Telecom Italia amid a fresh ownership shuffle (hello Poste Italiane!). CFO moves are the new chess board.
FAST FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
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5% of revenue = approximate loss to occupational fraud per year per company
$1.3T+ = U.S. corporate fraud tab annually
4% = cybersecurity budget growth in 2025
70%: CFO turnover in India in under two years.
Aug 18: Diageo’s leadership cliff diving date.
Sept 30: Diederich’s Bayern exit deadline.
CFO-APPROVED WATCHLIST
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Read: How Collateralized Fund Obligations (CFOs) just scored a record $1.25 billion deal with Carlyle AlpInvest. Yes, that’s a CFO offering.
Watch: (Trust us, send interns for this one.) No video picks this time, unless you count Diageo board meetings.
Listen: Sadly, nothing yet… perfect time for your favorite podcast to step up its game.
MORNING HACKS
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Create a Fraud Vulnerability Snapshot:
12-month revenue vs. estimated fraud loss
Cybersecurity budget as a % of tech spend
AI/quantum readiness rating (manually estimated) Then show how bumping budget by even 0.5% of spend can lower risk by 10–20%. Instant hero status.
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Quick pulse check on leadership risk: track CFO tenure countdown, interim replacements, and succession chatter in your industry.
If your competitor’s CFO is already looking for exits, your board may start asking.
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