\u201cI was in Thailand a couple of weeks ago with a huge bank, and they\u2019re really looking at their 10-year strategy and saying, \u2018We don\u2019t even know if our people are going to have a traditional full-time job anymore,\u2019\u201d O\u2019Reilly said. Instead of planning around fixed job roles, the bank is considering pivoting to what it calls a \u201cskills economy.\u201d Here, every project or initiative is treated like a gig assignment\u2014team members are chosen for their specific skill sets relevant to the project at hand.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s particularly notable is the bank\u2019s approach to continuous learning and reskilling. O\u2019Reilly explained that there\u2019s always room for someone new to build their skills within these project teams. For example, the bank might set aside 1% of a project team for employees looking to reskill\u2014people who say, \u201cI don\u2019t have these skills yet, but I have experience in adjacent areas and I want to learn.\u201d By doing so, the company ensures that fresh talent is constantly cycling into critical roles.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Reilly posed the question: How do we use AI not just for automation, but as the backbone for identifying and matching skills with project needs? She argued that AI can help organizations inventory existing skills, identify opportunities, and make it easier to create space for upskilling and onboarding new talent through gig-style projects.<\/p>\n
Perhaps a gig-based workplace would also inject variety into the day-to-day. And many companies are considering moving away from job-centric structures and toward a skills-focused approach, according to\u00a0Deloitte\u2019s report<\/a>,\u00a0\u201cBecoming an AI-enabled, skills-based organization.\u201d The firm finds that companies integrating both AI and skills-based approaches will be better positioned to predict talent gaps, improve talent placement, retain high performers, and reduce mis-hires.<\/p>\n AI and skills-based approaches could also mean that entry-level positions aren\u2019t eliminated by automation\u2014instead, new hires would be selected for specific skill sets that can be expanded and developed.<\/p>\n Skill requirements for jobs are constantly changing, noted Peiying Chua, head economist for APAC at LinkedIn<\/a>, during the panel session. \u201cFor entry-level workers, this presents the opportunity to upskill and work on different sets of abilities\u2014to build human-centric skills, agility, and creativity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Sheryl<\/strong> Estrada<\/strong> Leaderboard<\/p>\n William J. Atkins<\/b> was appointed interim principal financial officer of the casual-dining chain BJ\u2019s Restaurants Inc., effective July 28, according to an SEC filing<\/a>. Atkins has been a partner in the consulting firm FLG Partners, a consulting firm, since 2023, and since then has served as a consulting CFO or advisor to clients. Before that, Atkins was CFO for software services company Mobileum, and CFO for climate resilience data analytics company One Concern.<\/p>\n Daniel Berenbaum<\/b> was appointed CFO of Z\u016bm<\/a>, a student transportation provider. Berenbaum brings three decades of experience in financial management. He was previously CFO at Bloom Energy, NI (National Instruments), and Everspin, and held finance leadership roles at Micron and GlobalFoundries.<\/p>\n Big DealEton Bridge Partners’ 2025 CFO Pathways Report<\/a> examines the leadership trends shaping senior finance appointments globally. The executive search and finance consulting firm analyzed 6,400 CFO appointments across the top 10 countries by hiring volume.<\/p>\n In the U.S., which accounted for roughly one-third of all global CFO appointments\u2014the highest share by far\u2014over 90% of hires involved individuals moving to new roles within the same industry.\n<\/p>\n Most new CFOs were promoted internally (59%), typically advancing from other CFO-titled roles or from VP\/senior VP of finance positions. External hires made up 41% of appointments. The average age at appointment was 51, with opportunities peaking in the mid-50s.\n<\/p>\n Fewer than one-third (29%) of U.S. hires were first-time CFOs, suggesting boards prefer seasoned financial leaders.\n<\/p>\n While public companies remained influential, the majority of appointments (about 72%) were in private and PE-backed businesses, reinforcing the significant role of private capital in the CFO landscape.<\/p>\n Overall, the U.S. reflects a mature market where private equity influence, regulatory complexity, and sector-specific growth in healthcare and technology drive demand for highly experienced, sector-savvy finance leaders, according to the report. The talent pool is deep, competitive, and in high demand. Whether these trends will continue in 2025 remains to be seen.\n<\/p>\n “U.S. and E.U. reach a trade deal that sets 15% tariff rate and pledges hundreds of billions in investments” is a Fortune<\/a> report<\/a> by Jason Ma.<\/p>\n From the report: \u201cThe U.S. and European Union agreed on trade terms that include a 15% rate on most E.U. products as well as hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in American industry.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Scotland on Sunday to iron out the agreement.<\/p>\n Trump said the E.U. will invest $600 billion in the U.S. and buy $750 billion of U.S. energy, with \u2018vast amounts\u2019 of American weapons also in the mix. He also said the E.U. will be \u2018opening up their countries at zero tariff.\u2019 Von der Leyen said the 15% rate was \u2018all inclusive,\u2019 but Trump said later that it didn\u2019t apply to pharmaceuticals and metals, though it does for autos.\u201d<\/p>\n Overheard<\/p>\n “I ask them, what would make them more effective? Which basically is saying, what are your weaknesses? And you\u2019d be amazed at how many people can\u2019t answer that.”<\/b><\/p>\n \u2014Kelli Valade, CEO of Denny\u2019s Corporation, told Fortune<\/a> the critical questions she asks job applicants at the end of an interview.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/First-time-CFOs.png\"\/)
Courtesy of Eton Bridge PartnersGoing deeper<\/p>\n