CFOs Confront AI, Tighter Capital and a Broader Mandate at SHoF Forum

May. 25, 2026

Representatives from industry, academia and the investment community gathered at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) this week as the Swedish House of Finance (SHoF) hosted its annual CFO forum, focusing on how the role of finance chiefs is evolving amid technological change and economic uncertainty.

In the third meeting of the SSE Private Capital CFO Forum, Nordic chief financial officers (CFOs) examined topics of common interest, including how the CFO role is changing, how AI is best incorporated in CFO office operations, and the role of a CFO in a turnaround situation. The forum was hosted by SHoF’s Bo Becker and Diogo Mendes.

"We enjoy learning about the challenges CFOs face at the moment, improve the ability to prepare students for CFO careers, and organize a dialogue between CFOs and experts in the domains that are most relevant to them, such as reporting, technology, funding strategies, and capital markets. The CFO network offers an interface between academia and the CFOs where we can do all that," Becker said.

Several discussions focused on the growing use of artificial intelligence within finance functions and how companies can integrate new technologies into existing operations. Alexander Roos of Boston Consulting Group’s Center for CFO Excellence discussed how finance teams can use AI and technology to improve both the operational efficiency and the quality of analytics and other outputs, followed by a broader discussion on practical applications and expectations for the technology.

Other speakers addressed how finance leaders are navigating more difficult economic conditions and adapting to changes in private capital markets. Jukka Kainulainen, CFO of Kempower, spoke about the responsibilities of CFOs during periods of economic and financial volatility, while SHoF’s Per Strömberg, Professor of Finance and Private Equity at SSE, described his theories of "expensive private equity" and what this means for which firms are suitable for PE ownership through the financial cycle.

Afternoon sessions focused on funding rapid growth outside traditional venture capital structures and managing governance within buy-and-build groups.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on how the CFO role is changing across different stages of corporate development, led by Magnus Tyreman, chair of the SSE board, alongside Fredrik Rystedt of Essity and Gun Nilsson of Melker Schörling AB.

"The environment for CFOs has become more complex, with volatile financing costs, rapid technological change and greater pressure on companies to make disciplined strategic decisions," Mendes said. "Those themes came through clearly in the discussions during the day."