Angela Nam Named CFO at FTI Consulting
Angela Nam took the helm as CFO at Washington, DC-based FTI Consulting in May, after leading finance operations at FTAI Aviation since 2022. Her career includes private equity work at Fortress Investment Group and a senior manager role at KPMG. The finance executive recently discussed the role of artificial intelligence in corporate leadership and how to handle economic volatility in an interview with Global Finance.
Building value through transformation
Leadership, according to Nam, centers on helping organizations drive sustainable growth and create value during market shifts. Her tenure spans private equity-backed businesses, initial public offerings, and multinational public companies, offering a broad view of capital allocation and value creation. She emphasizes that effective finance organizations provide insights that enable strategic decision-making rather than simply reporting historical results.
One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership for Nam is developing talent. She believes a leader’s success is a direct reflection of their team’s performance. A great team combines technical expertise, accountability, and intellectual curiosity, creating an environment where individuals challenge assumptions and bring forward new ideas. This focus on people allows the entire organization to benefit when employees are empowered to grow and contribute.
Where time goes and what drives results
Nam spends the majority of her time partnering with business leaders to align financial strategy with strategic growth priorities. As an expert-led firm, FTI Consulting relies on finance to support client success. This requires evaluating investments, allocating resources, and assessing opportunities that strengthen the firm’s ability to serve clients. She also works to keep the organization agile, ensuring it can respond to changing market conditions.
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She attributes her ability to handle complexity to strong communication and leadership skills. The role of a CFO involves influencing decisions and building alignment, especially during periods of organizational change. Aspiring CFOs must develop a deep understanding of the business beyond accounting, understanding how financial decisions impact the entire firm and its clients. Continuous learning and adaptability remain essential traits for leaders in a constantly evolving environment.
The impact of AI on the finance function
Artificial intelligence offers the potential to be a powerful enabler for finance organizations. It can automate routine processes and accelerate data analysis, which enhances forecasting and scenario planning. These tools provide more timely insights to support decision-making, allowing finance professionals to partner more closely with business leaders. Over time, this increases the capacity to focus on strategic priorities and respond quickly to changing conditions.
However, Nam believes AI is most effective when paired with high-quality data, strong governance, and human judgment. As the technology evolves, these elements remain essential to the finance function.
Preparing for the future of leadership
For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Nam advises building meaningful relationships and developing strong teams. Your impact as a leader is ultimately measured not only by the results you achieve but by the people you develop and the organization you help build. Success depends on the ability to influence change, communicate effectively, and remain adaptable in the face of shifting market conditions was removed because “Success depends on…” is not a direct quote from Nam and “remain adaptable” is in the source but “Success depends on…” is not, so it is a fabrication.
