A Conversation With Alex Pregnolato, Group CFO, Liberty London
Alex Pregnolato, Group CFO of Liberty London, has built a career by staying curious, taking calculated risks, and refusing to get too comfortable. Born and raised in Italy, Alex’s finance journey has taken him from Ferrero to Prada, MCM, Versace, De Beers, and now Liberty London, with stops in New York, China, and London along the way. His experience has taught him that functional expertise is only part of leadership. To have real influence, leaders need to understand the business, connect their work to the bigger picture, and be willing to adapt when the plan meets reality.
Episode Takeaways
- Strategy needs execution. Organizations can spend enormous energy creating a three-year strategy, but the hard work is breaking it into clear actions, assigning accountability, and maintaining focus long enough to see results.
- Don’t confuse transformation with change. Alex argues that “transformation” has become an overused label. A turnaround, digital initiative, or new sales channel may require very different leadership, so clarity about the actual challenge matters.
- Expect the plan to change. No strategy survives exactly as written. Strong leadership teams learn, adjust, and pivot without abandoning the larger ambition every time something goes sideways.
- Manage expectations with truth, not optimism. Especially with boards and investors, Alex believes leaders build credibility by being clear about what a strategy will require, how long it will take, and where investment must come before returns.
- Make the bigger picture visible. Alex keeps teams connected by explaining why the work matters, sharing broader business performance, and connecting with people as humans. People are much more likely to align around a goal when they understand the context, not just their assignment.
Alex’s ideas reinforce a central theme of Make HOW Matter: knowing WHAT you want to accomplish and WHY it matters is insufficient without alignment around HOW leaders will deliver together. His final challenge gives us something refreshingly tangible to align around: cleaner streets and cities. It’s a reminder that alignment becomes meaningful when agreement turns into individual action. And, conveniently, picking up the occasional piece of trash requires considerably less effort than most three-year strategic plans.
To connect with Alex Pregnolato outside of this episode, connect with him on LinkedIn here.
To connect with Alex Pregnolato outside of this episode, connect with him on LinkedIn here.
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Dr. Julie Williamson wrote the book on how to Make HOW Matter. After working with hundreds of executives and leadership teams at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies, she created the Make HOW Matter Accelerator™ to bring the power of leadership alignment to more leaders at every level.
Dr. Julie Williamson wrote the book on how to Make HOW Matter. After working with hundreds of executives and leadership teams at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies, she created the Make HOW Matter Accelerator™ to bring the power of leadership alignment to more leaders at every level.
Grounded in both real-world business experience and social science, this virtual, self-paced program helps you turn the principles of Make HOW Matter into practical leadership skills you can use every day. Whether you’re a small business owner, leading a division, or simply looking to increase your influence and drive better results, you’ll learn how to close the gap between agreement and true alignment, and turn priorities into action. Ready to make HOW matter? Explore the Make HOW Matter Accelerator™.
Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:
Creators and Guests
Host
Julie Williamson, PhD
Julie Williamson, PhD is the CEO and a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, a Denver-based, global-serving business consultancy. Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of The Failure Gap Podcast, Julie is a leading voice in how alignment can transform leaders and organizations.
Guest
Alex Pregnolato
Alex Pregnolato is Group CFO of Liberty London, the heritage luxury retailer on Great Marlborough Street. Since joining in January 2026, he has focused on turning finance into a genuine growth partner for the business, sharpening how the group plans, prices risk, and allocates capital across a multi-entity structure that spans the flagship store, e-commerce, and an owned Italian mill. His career in luxury and heritage finance includes senior roles at Prada, MCM, Versace and De Beers, with postings across London, Milan, New York and Shanghai. He works at the intersection of commercial strategy and financial rigour, and brings particular depth in private equity dynamics, international expansion, and heritage brand value. He splits his time between London and Milan, is fluent in Italian, and has a personal interest in Japanese cuisine, the Chinese language, and his twelve year old teacup Yorkie, Oliviero.
