This Week's Top Five Finance Leadership Stories

JPMorgan CEO Launches From the Desk Economic Policy Forum

JPMorgan Chase has launched From the Desk, a public forum where senior leadership will publish perspectives on policy and economic trends. 

Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon introduces the initiative in a letter shared on LinkedIn.

The platform extends beyond the quarterly reporting cycle that typically defines investor communications. 

Jamie frames the forum as a response to market volatility and the intersection of corporate strategy with public policy.

"Good public policy is the foundation of a strong economy and a healthy society, and the quality and consistency of policy are among the most important drivers of a country's prosperity," he writes.

According to Jamie, JPMorgan receives frequent requests for its views on global challenges. 

He says that the new forum was created to share insight on "public policy, economic trends and other critical issues facing our company and the world."

Finance Chief Podcast: Jody Bhagat on Bank Modernisation

Banking is entering one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history, and the latest episode of the Finance Podcast explores exactly why.

In Episode 2, titled “Why Banks Must Modernise to Compete in the Future,” host Matt Hind speaks with Jody Bhagat, President of North America at Engine by Starling, about the pressures reshaping financial institutions and the technology driving the next generation of banking innovation.

With more than 25 years of experience spanning banking, consulting and fintech, Bhagat brings a unique perspective on how banks can modernise their operations, improve customer experience and unlock faster innovation.

Throughout the episode, he explains why banking institutions can no longer rely on legacy technology, incremental upgrades or outdated operating models if they want to remain competitive.

Disney Reports First Quarterly Results Under Josh D'Amaro

Disney released its Q2 2026 financial results under new chief executive Josh D'Amaro. The company reported revenue growth of 7% in the quarter.

According to the earnings report, entertainment division revenue increased 10%. The streaming unit delivered operating income growth of 88%.

Josh D'Amaro sent a memo to staff about the results, reported by Business Insider. He tells employees: "The results we reported are not just numbers on a page – they are a direct reflection of your hard work, creativity and the way you deliver for our fans every single day."

The results followed job cuts announced in April that affected around 1,000 positions. The redundancies came one month after Josh took on the role.

Accenture Among Winners at Coupa Partner Awards 2026

Coupa, the autonomous spend management platform, has announced the winners of its 2026 Partner Awards at the annual Coupa Inspire Partner Summit, highlighting the growing role of strategic partnerships in helping enterprises strengthen cost control, operational resilience and AI-enabled transformation.

The awards recognise partners that have delivered measurable value for shared customers through innovation, digital transformation and improved spend governance across global markets.

"We are thrilled to recognise our 2026 award winners for their unwavering commitment to excellence," comments Greg Harbor, Chief Partner Officer at Coupa.

"Our partners are the backbone of the Coupa community, helping our mutual customers drive margin growth and future-proof their operations. Together, we are achieving ambitious goals and shaping the future of spend management."  

Q1 Results: How Did Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen Perform?

Global automotive manufacturers faced pressure from rising energy costs and geopolitical tensions in the first quarter of 2026. Some companies reported potential raw materials shortages linked to conflict in the Middle East.

Western carmakers confronted competition from Chinese manufacturers in the electric vehicle market, as key Chinese brands entered the sector with lower production costs and faster manufacturing cycles.

Finance Chief has analysed first quarter 2026 results from multiple global automotive brands.