BROADCASTS.com

When Checkout.com CFO C\xe9line Duf\xe9tel tells us that her career decision-making has been driven not so much by titles or status but by an inner push to acquire the next level of skills or types of skills, we can\u2019t help but note a mysterious coincidence.

It seems that a former McKinsey & Company partner had just shared the exact same thought with us almost word for word. Moreover, so, too, had a former CFO of T. Rowe Price. Of course, there\u2019s a sound explanation for this concurrence, and\u2014much like with the solution to an Agatha Christie mystery\u2014the answer is perhaps best read out loud: \u201cThe former McKinseyite, the former T. Rowe CFO, and Checkout.com\u2019s CFO are the same person.\u201d

For Duf\xe9tel, the path to the CFO office at Checkout.com began at McKinsey, where 10 years ago she was the leader of the consulting firm\u2019s North American Asset Management practice. Two years earlier, Duf\xe9tel had been named a McKinsey partner, a prestigious milestone for an up-and-comer who would ultimately spend 10 years at the firm.

\u201cBeing a consultant, not only did you have to come in with a good strategy answer for your client, but also you had to convince them that it was the right answer for them,\u201d comments Duf\xe9tel, who credits the strategy house with strengthening her \u201cinfluencing skills.\u201d

Duf\xe9tel left the strategy house in 2014 to serve as global head of marketing for investment management firm Neuberger Berman\u2014a 3-year stint that ultimately allowed her to switch tracks.

\u201cLeaving McKinsey to take on a much more operational role was very informative, and it was helpful for making certain that I was in tune operationally and would be able to execute well,\u201d remarks Duf\xe9tel, who exited Neuberger after an executive search consultant had gauged her interest in a CFO position with asset management T. Rowe Price.  

At T. Rowe, Duf\xe9tel also acquired COO responsibilities before ending a 4-year CFO tenure there in order to be named CFO and COO of Checkout.com.

And so it goes inside the time-bending career of C\xe9line Duf\xe9tel, whose resume no doubt stress-tested the selection criteria for more than one \u201c40 Under 40\u201d list. (she appeared on Fortune\u2019s back in 2020). \u2013Jack Sweeney