CEO Insights Magazine

CFOs play a crucial role in shaping an organization's financial success, necessitating their embodiment of a harmonious blend of strategic vision, financial expertise, ethical leadership, and collaborative spirit. Possessing a strategic vision enables CFOs to foresee market trends, identify growth prospects, and steer the organization toward long-term prosperity. Their financial expertise empowers them to make well-informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and drive profitability. Ethical leadership ensures that CFOs prioritize integrity, transparency, and compliance, building trust among stakeholders. Moreover, their collaborative spirit enables them to cultivate strong partnerships, leverage diverse perspectives, and foster innovation. These qualities collectively empower CFOs, such as Mater Alenazi, to navigate intricate financial landscapes and lead organizations toward sustainable success.

Mater Alenazi is a visionary financial strategist and accomplished leader in the realm of finance. As the Chief Financial Officer, Mater brings a wealth of expertise and a dynamic approach to financial management that sets new standards in the industry. With an illustrious career, Mater has consistently demonstrated a great passion for excellence, driving remarkable growth and transformation across diverse organizations.

Below is an excerpt of Mater Alenazi’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights ASIA magazine.

How do green finance and green bonds impact sustainable development?

Climate change is undeniably leaving its mark on the environment, with visible effects such as prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and unprecedented temperatures across various regions. In response to this alarming reality, governments, prominent developmental finance organizations, commercial banks, and socially responsible investors have united their efforts, pledging billions of dollars to combat this genuine threat to our precious home planet. This commitment aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which places sustainable development at its core, offering a comprehensive roadmap for a successful green transition. The remarkable growth of the Green Bond market exemplifies this global movement, as these bonds have already raised a staggering $2.5 trillion worldwide, effectively supporting numerous green and sustainable projects.

Apart from the positive publicity and acclaim associated with issuing green bonds, they also offer competitive pricing, making them an attractive funding avenue that more Saudi businesses should consider tapping into.

Give a brief account of the strategic benefits of M&As.

I firmly believe that well-executed mergers and acquisitions hold tremendous potential for businesses to unlock synergies and achieve remarkable growth. The advantages of economies of scale, enhanced competitiveness, and risk diversification cannot be overstated. Nonetheless, companies must prioritize thorough due diligence and develop a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the transition successfully and ensure the desired value generation. This disciplined approach is paramount to capitalize on the immense opportunities that M&As present in today's dynamic business landscape.

Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines and methodologies you follow as a leader?

The key to successfully bringing a vision to life lies in the art of persuasive and impactful communication. It entails inspiring the team to wholeheartedly embrace the vision, meticulously devising an execution plan, and flawlessly implementing it. In my journey, I have embraced a positive mindset and positioned myself as a proactive problem solver. Guided by principles of integrity, fairness, and professionalism, I place great emphasis on effective communication and collaboration. By being approachable and fostering constructive discussions, I aim to create an environment where the entire team and stakeholders can contribute their valuable insights and ideas.

What are the factors you consider when developing effective corporate growth strategies?

In my view, the crucial components of a successful corporate growth strategy encompass keenly identifying opportunities, establishing ambitious goals, crafting precise objectives and milestones, prioritizing effectively, as well as, optimizing the allocation of both human and capital resources. Once the strategy is implemented, vigilant monitoring is essential to maintain focus on unlocking sustained growth.

How does digitalization help CFOs in quality reporting?

Finance teams typically devote a significant portion of their time, around 48 percent, to the tedious task of creating and updating reports. Another 32 percent is spent on analyzing and interpreting data, leaving a mere 18 percent for meaningful interaction and communication with the business. This skewed allocation of time must be reversed to unleash the true value of finance teams: delivering real-time, data-driven decision support to the organization. The solution lies in embracing digitalization, which has the power to revolutionize reporting by making it intelligent, interactive, accurate, and real-time. This transformative shift towards more prescriptive reporting empowers users to make well-informed decisions on time, driving efficiency and success.

Mater Alenazi, Group Chief Financial Officer, AJLAN & BROS. HOLDING

Mater Alenazi, an accomplished Chief Financial Officer, brings a wealth of expertise to the role. With an Executive MBA from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Mater has honed his financial prowess and strategic acumen. Prior to becoming a member of AJLAN & BROS. HOLDING, Mater achieved notable accomplishments while working at renowned organizations such as Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and ACWA Power. His impressive achievements established him as a dynamic finance leader, earning him a strong reputation.