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:How Alex transitioned from accounting to treasury - and why it stuckEarly lessons from Vodafone and Subsea7 on cash visibility and project healthTreasury in a PE-backed business vs. a listed global companyBuilding a modern treasury function from the ground up at InchcapeManaging treasury across 40+ markets with regional leadershipThe importance of TMS, payment platforms, and automationFinancing a £1.3B acquisition and preparing for market debut bondsThe role of stablecoins and digital payments in emerging marketsDeveloping yourself as a senior treasury leaderWhy curiosity, simplification, and networking are core to treasury successYou can connect with Alex Chalmers on LinkedIn.---🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify PodcastsCLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/