Adapting to Market Fluctuations: A CFO’s Guide to Consumer Behaviour

Beyond the balance sheet, what strategies do CFOs in the fast-moving consumer goods industry deploy to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market?

In this episode, Claire Caulliez, CFO at Nestle Italy & Malta, gives David McClelland a behind-the-scenes insight into the unique challenges finance leaders face in an industry driven by high volume and fierce brand loyalty.

Claire’s strategies for smart sourcing, hedging, and agile pricing are not just tactics but essential tools for sustaining consumer attention and ensuring product availability. Highlighting how agility in financial planning is paramount amidst whirlwind changes in buying tastes and commodity prices, Claire explains that much like managing personal finances, it’s about distinguishing between essentials and non-essentials.

Discussing the broader role of a CFO in fueling growth, Claire advocates collaboration across departments including sales, supply chain, and HR, as being critical for transparency and risk management, while having the courage to be a change-maker within the organisation.