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The Treasury Career CornerAuthor: Mike Richards
In this weekly podcast I interview Treasury professionals from across the globe about their treasury careers. I talk to them about their roles, how they built their careers, where they are now and where do they see both themselves and the treasury profession developing. Other areas we talk about include; -Career highlights and lowlights -Where they got their big break -What they see as key to their success -Where do their careers go from here? -What do they see as the future of the Treasury profession As a treasury recruitment company, we also explore treasury talent issues and what they believe is the future for treasury profession? Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Automating FX Hedging And Applying AI In Treasury At Breitling
Episode 409
Monday, 8 December, 2025
What does it take to transform treasury into a strategic driver inside a global luxury brand? In this episode, Olivier Smekens, Global Head of Treasury at Breitling, shares how he’s leveraging fintech, automation, and agile thinking to future-proof treasury operations - and what you can learn from his approach.With a career spanning consulting, automotive manufacturing, and high-growth private equity environments, Olivier brings a wealth of cross-industry experience. At Breitling, he’s leading the digital transformation of treasury - automating FX hedging, preparing for IPO-readiness, and exploring the frontiers of AI in financial systems.Whether you're building a treasury function from the ground up or optimizing an established one, you'll walk away with practical insights on:Implementing automation to manage FX riskEvaluating next-gen treasury techSupporting rapid growth in a private equity settingThis conversation is a must-listen for treasury professionals ready to elevate their role as strategic enablers of growth.What We Cover in This Episode:Olivier’s career path: from KPMG auditor to global treasury leaderTransitioning into treasury without prior experience - and thrivingKey treasury challenges in the automotive industry (FX risk, liquidity, decentralization)What it’s like to lead treasury in a private equity-backed companyHow treasury supports high-growth initiatives at Breitling, including acquisitions and expansionImplementing FX hedge automation using KantoxPreparing for a TMS rollout: evaluating AI capabilities and tech providersThe role of NFTs and blockchain in Breitling’s digital innovationEmbracing a tech-forward mindset to drive treasury efficiencyHow cross-cultural experience has shaped Olivier’s leadership styleWhy soft skills and simplification are vital for board-level impactYou can connect with Olivier Smekens on LinkedIn. ---🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify PodcastsCLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/
