Top Five Stories of the Week on Finance Chief

Avalara: Finance Chiefs Rush AI Deployment Ahead of Controls

Finance departments are racing to deploy AI agents, but corporate oversight and risk controls are struggling to keep pace with the speed of adoption.

New research from tax and compliance software provider Avalara reveals a growing divide between executive demands for rapid AI deployment and the practical governance required to manage autonomous systems in critical financial operations.

The study, which surveyed 1,505 CFOs and senior finance executives across the UK, US, India and Australia, highlights a department caught between career pressure and risk management.

Speaking to Finance Chief exclusively, Hugo Sarrazin, CEO of Avalara, says: "There’s a meaningful gap between enthusiasm and readiness. Finance leaders are moving fast on agentic AI, which is the right instinct, but that can’t come at the expense of governance and control.

Nasdaq Boosts Treasury Infrastructure with Georgian Banks​​​​​​​

In what the companies call a "landmark" partnership to support the growth of the banking sector, Nasdaq has partnered with the National Bank of Georgia. 

Under a shared infrastructure model, five other large commercial banks, including TBC Bank, Liberty Bank, Basisbank and Terabank will also gain access. These are some of the country’s largest banks, representing the majority of the country’s commercial banking assets. 

The partnership, which marks a milestone in the development of the country’s capital markets, is operating under the Georgian Market Advancement Program (GMPA),  in addition to the Georgian Financial Markets Treasuries’ Association. 

The model spans a full front-to-back trade lifecycle. 

AT&T's Pascal Desroches Lifts 2026 Buyback to US$10bn

AT&T has turned a strong second quarter into a bigger payout for shareholders. On the group's earnings call on 22 July, Chief Financial Officer Pascal Desroches told investors the telco would lift its 2026 share buyback to roughly US$10bn, up from US$8bn, after free cash flow beat its own guidance.

Consolidated revenue rose 2.3% year on year and service revenue 2.7%, while adjusted earnings climbed more than 20% to US$0.65 a share. 

“Earlier this year, we provided an outlook for accelerated growth and execution of our strategy. That's exactly what we delivered in the second quarter.” says John Stankey, Chairman and CEO of AT&T.

Truly Global Revolut Secures Full Australian Banking Licence​​​​​​​

Global fintech Revolut has secured an independent Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI) licence from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). 

The approval makes it the first global fintech to obtain a full unrestricted ADI licence in the country, marking its first licensed banking entity in the APAC region.

The regulatory milestone will see Revolut invest nearly AU$400m (US$280.6m) into the Australian market over the next five years. 

The capital injection will support local product innovation, growth and headcount expansion.

With existing operations across more than 40 markets, Revolut currently serves over 45 million retail customers globally. 

The move allows the firm to transition its existing Australian user base – comprising over 1 million retail customers and thousands of businesses – directly into a fully regulated banking ecosystem.

Nik Storonsky, Founder and CEO of Revolut, comments: “Launching our Australian bank has been a long-term strategic priority and marks another significant step in our mission to build the world's first truly global bank.”

PVH Corp appoints Sephora Executive Alexis Rollier as CFO

PVH Corp, the parent company of global fashion powerhouses Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER, has announced the appointment of Alexis Rollier as Chief Financial Officer.

Alexis will formally step into the position in early September 2026, taking charge of the company’s global finance organisation and directing all financial steering across its worldwide operational footprint.

In his new role, Alexis will join the PVH Executive Leadership Team and report directly to CEO Stefan Larsson. 

His arrival comes at a crucial junction for the apparel giant as it continues to advance its long-term financial performance and international expansion across multi-channel retail environments.

Alexis Rollier, incoming Chief Financial Officer, PVH Corp, says: “Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER are two of the most iconic brands in the world, with powerful consumer relevance, and I am energised by the opportunity to join the PVH team at this important stage of the company’s journey.”