What Media CFOs are Talking about Right Now
We recently hosted our latest CFO Breakfast Roundtable at The Wolseley, this time bringing together senior finance leaders from across the media industry for an open and candid discussion.
The group shared experiences from across film, television, production, and media investment businesses. The conversation centred on how the role of the CFO continues to change, particularly in an industry shaped by shifting audience habits, capital investment, and global market pressures.
We were also delighted to welcome Alison Cornwell, who led the discussion and shared reflections from a career spanning major global media organisations, including The Walt Disney Company and Vue International during some of the most turbulent periods the sector has faced, including the pandemic and the recent actor and writer strikes. Today, Alison is CFO of Easttree Media, a BlackRock backed investment platform focused on media rights.
Below are some of the key themes that emerged from the morning.
Building Rigour Without Losing Trust
One of the strongest points of consensus around the table was that the most effective finance leaders manage to balance two things that can often feel in tension: rigour and trust.
Finance teams are responsible for discipline, governance, and ensuring the numbers stand up to scrutiny. But in creative industries like media, leadership teams also need space to innovate and take calculated risks.
The CFOs in the room spoke about how building credibility across the organisation allows finance to challenge decisions constructively without being seen as a blocker. When that trust is established, finance becomes an enabler of better decisions rather than simply the function that says “no”.
The Rise of Storytelling as a CFO Skill
Another theme that resonated across the group was the increasing importance of storytelling.
CFO’s today are not just responsible for reporting numbers, but for explaining what those numbers mean. Whether communicating with investors, boards, or internal leadership teams, finance leaders are increasingly expected to translate financial performance into a clear narrative.
In industries like media, where growth strategies, content investments, and rights portfolios can be complex, the ability to frame a compelling story around financial performance is becoming a critical leadership skill.
Several attendees commented that this narrative element is often what helps align management teams and ensures that strategic decisions are understood across the business.
Owning the Investor Narrative
Closely linked to this is the growing responsibility CFOs have for managing investor relationships and shaping the external narrative around a company.
As businesses scale and investment structures become more sophisticated, finance leaders are often the bridge between operational performance and capital markets. That means not only presenting results but also articulating long term strategy, risk, and opportunity.
Careers Built on Relationships
While the discussion covered many technical and strategic topics, one of the more personal reflections from the morning focused on the relationships that develop across finance careers.
Many around the table noted how frequently paths cross again throughout the industry, whether through new roles, investment relationships, or board positions.
The consensus was clear: the professional networks built over years in finance often become long lasting friendships, and those connections continue to shape opportunities long after individual roles change.
Giving Back to the Next Generation
Alison also spoke about the importance of giving back alongside a full-time finance career.
She highlighted her non-executive involvement with organisations including Scottish Ballet and the ICAS Foundation, both of which play important roles in supporting arts and education.
For many finance leaders, these types of roles provide an opportunity to use their expertise in a different context, while helping support the next generation entering the profession.
Looking Ahead
The conversation reinforced just how much the CFO role continues to evolve. Finance leaders are strategic partners, storytellers, and key voices in shaping how businesses communicate with investors and stakeholders.
Most importantly, gatherings like this highlight the value of bringing senior leaders together to share experiences openly. The challenges facing finance teams may differ across organisations, but the insights gained from collective discussion are often what help leaders navigate them more effectively.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this latest breakfast discussion.
We’re looking forward to hosting further events throughout the year. If you’re a senior finance leader and would be interested in joining a future session, please get in touch with Will Dodds or David Chancellor:
willdodds@pearseprofessionals.com
davidchancellor@pearseprofessionals.com