The CFO Executive Summit
Serving CFOs and Financial Leaders of
Middle-Market and Growth-Oriented Companies
The CFO Executive Summit was launched in 2020, in partnership with the UCI Merage School of Business, with the mission of creating a non-solicitous environment for thought leadership and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer for middle-market to large-cap company CFOs in Southern California. We sponsor events throughout the year to educate CFOs on topics they are facing in the marketplace. To help steer our organization and drive relevant content, we have assembled an advisory board of CFOs to provide strategic direction to our growing organization.
Our 3 Core Guiding Principles
Provide Relevant & Timely Technical Content
Along with Peer-to-Peer Networking Opportunities
In a Non-Solicitous Environment
Meet the Founders
Co-Founder
Hub International
Vice President, Property & Casualty
Russell Watts is Vice President of Property & Casualty at HUB International, where he manages complex risk transactions through a concierge model connecting clients with top specialists in areas like property & casualty, employee benefits, high-net-worth coverage, and retirement plans. Before HUB, he spent eight years in commercial real estate as a Director at Cushman & Wakefield. A Pepperdine graduate and former Alumni Association President, Russell serves on the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council and UCI Merage School’s Dean’s Leadership Circle. Born and raised in Orange County and now in Aliso Viejo, he is an avid outdoorsman, having climbed Mount Whitney and Mount Russell.
Co Founder
Baker Tilly
Director - Business Development
Scott leads practice development initiatives at Baker Tilly, a leading national accounting, tax, and advisory firm. Focused on providing business solutions to CFOs, he engages firm resources to solve the business needs and objectives of middle market companies, helping clients improve profitability, reduce tax liabilities, leverage technology, and meet compliance requirements. Scott holds a B.S. in Business Administration from USC and an MBA from Pepperdine. He is a co-founder of the CFO Executive Summit and currently serves on the board of ACG (OC). He is a prior board member and past president of the Risk Management Association, Orange County chapter. Scott lives in Aliso Viejo. He and his wife of 30+ years have two adult sons. Scott has climbed Mt. Whitney several times, hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim, and trekked to Everest Base Camp.
