Top 5 Stories of the Week on Finance Chief

LCAW: Bain & Co Checks Pulse on Net Zero Goals with New Data

In its third iteration, the Business Breakthrough Barometer, which tracks how sectors are developing business strategies to support net zero goals, has been published. 

As a collaborative effort between the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Breakthrough Agenda, the Climate High-Level Champions and Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action – and supported by Bain & Company – it explores through interviews, current trends and data how risk perceptions are evolving. 

Further evolution studied by the report includes how corporate strategies and investments are “enabling” conditions needed to grow more private-sector investment on a global scale. 

Speaking to Finance Chief exclusively, Henning Huenteler, BAIN’s partner from its Sustainability & Responsibility practice, says that for companies aiming for net zero, the report shows “companies pressing ahead, but for competitiveness rather than ambition: nearly 90% of survey respondents have maintained or increased climate investment and 38% strengthened their targets in 2025. 

“Progress is more durable because it now rests on proven technologies with a clear economic case.”

Blockchain: Solana Gains MoneyGram as Active Validator

MoneyGram has announced its entry into the Solana ecosystem as an active network validator. 

The move deepens the global remittance company's commitment to blockchain-based financial infrastructure, allowing it to contribute directly to the security, integrity and performance of the network.

Alongside its role as a validator, MoneyGram has also joined the Solana Developer Platform,  the AI-ready, API-driven platform designed to build and scale compliant financial products. 

MoneyGram enters as an early adopter alongside other major institutions, including Mastercard, to help shape institutional blockchain infrastructure.

Anthony Soohoo, Chairman and CEO, MoneyGram says: “MoneyGram has spent the past several years integrating blockchain into our payment infrastructure, and everything we are building now leverages this foundation. Engaging with Solana is the next step in that journey.

Airwallex Names Pranav Sood as Chief Financial Officer

The move comes as the fintech firm, recently valued at US$8bn, continues its expansion into a sector it defines as intelligent financial systems – where money, data and decisions move in unison.

Pranav rejoins the business from Bain Capital’s growth equity fund, where his remit focused on scaling technology firms across the UK and Europe. 

His appointment serves as a welcome home; during his previous tenure at the company, he led both the global marketing function and the initial build-out of its EMEA operations.

Starling Bank Welcomes Ex-HSBC CEO Colin Bell as New Chair

Starling Group has announced that Colin Bell is to become the new Chair of the Boards of Starling Group Holdings Limited and Starling Bank Limited on 1 July 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Assuming leadership during a critical financial juncture, Colin will guide the digital bank into a highly profitable enterprise.

The organisation is now prioritising sustainable returns and the expansion of its balance sheet via a broader range of lending activities.

Colin Bell initially joined the Starling Board in October 2025 as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Since then, he has served as the Chair of the Board Risk Committees for both Starling Bank Limited and Starling Group Holdings Limited.

Following an announcement in March, he is set to succeed David Sproul as Chair of both Boards.

Pfizer Finance Chief Dave Denton Resigns for Consumer Goods

Pharmaceutical heavyweight Pfizer has announced the departure of its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Dave Denton. 

He will step down from his role on 15 August to pursue a new corporate opportunity at retail giant Nike. 

Dave writes on LinkedIn: "I'm excited to share that in August I will be joining Nike as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Pfizer has appointed Cecile Guegan, currently Senior Vice President of Finance for the global biopharmaceutical business, to step into the Chief Financial Officer role on an interim basis from 16 August.