Lessons From Inchcape: Building Treasury Teams That Scale Globally

What does it take to transform a lean, manual treasury operation into a global, scalable powerhouse supporting 40+ markets?

Alex Chalmers, Group Treasurer at Inchcape, shares how he did just that - while navigating complex M&A, implementing automation, and building regional treasury leadership around the world.

Alex Chalmers is the Group Treasurer at Inchcape, the world’s leading independent automotive distributor. With a career spanning Vodafone, Subsea7, and private equity-backed ventures, Alex brings deep expertise in building treasury functions that align with dynamic, fast-growing global businesses.

In this episode of the Treasury Career Corner, Alex takes us through his treasury journey, from entering the field “by accident” to leading Inchcape’s treasury function through major growth and transformation.

You’ll hear how he modernized systems, scaled operations across continents, and handled a £1.3B acquisition - while still staying hands-on with regional treasury realities.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. How Alex transitioned from accounting to treasury - and why it stuck
2. Early lessons from Vodafone and Subsea7 on cash visibility and project health
3. Treasury in a PE-backed business vs. a listed global company
4. Building a modern treasury function from the ground up at Inchcape
5. Managing treasury across 40+ markets with regional leadership
6. The importance of TMS, payment platforms, and automation
7. Financing a £1.3B acquisition and preparing for market debut bonds
8. The role of stablecoins and digital payments in emerging markets
9. Developing yourself as a senior treasury leader
10. Why curiosity, simplification, and networking are core to treasury success

You can connect with Alex Chalmers on LinkedIn.

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