Elizabeth (Liz) Kistruck is a highly accomplished business executive who currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Motorway, a rapidly growing online marketplace for used cars based in the UK. With a strong background in finance, engineering, and global marketplaces, Kistruck is known for her ability to navigate complex industries and lead businesses through fast-paced growth. Her career trajectory reflects a blend of technical expertise, strategic financial leadership, and a deep understanding of the digital marketplace.
Early Life and Education
Liz Kistruck educational background laid the foundation for her successful career in both engineering and finance. She earned a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, which helped her develop strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. Early in her career, Kistruck applied these skills as an engineering process improvement consultant, working in manufacturing environments across Europe. This experience not only honed her technical abilities but also exposed her to the intricacies of business operations and management.
Her transition from engineering to finance marked a significant turning point in her career. Kistruck retrained to become a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA), a qualification that allowed her to pivot into the world of corporate finance. This unique combination of technical engineering expertise and financial acumen would later become a hallmark of her approach to business leadership.
Liz Kistruck Career Journey: From Global Corporations to Fast-Growing Startups
Kistruck’s career spans both large multinational corporations and high-growth startups, providing her with a diverse set of experiences and a broad understanding of various business models.
Expedia Group: A Foundation in Global Business
Kistruck’s career took off at Expedia Group, where she spent 14 years in various high-level roles, including CFO of Hotels.com and CFO of Expedia for Business. This long tenure allowed her to gain a deep understanding of global markets, consumer behavior, and the dynamics of the travel industry. Expedia’s international reach and diverse offerings provided Kistruck with invaluable experience in handling large-scale operations and navigating the challenges of global consumer demand and digital marketing.
Her role as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Analytics at Expedia also gave her an edge in data-driven decision-making, enabling her to leverage analytics to shape business strategy and marketing efforts. These experiences laid a solid foundation for her future roles in marketplace-driven businesses.
Lyst: A Shift to Fashion Marketplaces
After her successful run at Expedia, Kistruck made the transition to the fashion industry, taking on the role of CFO at Lyst, a fashion marketplace that connects consumers with top brands and retailers. This shift from travel to retail was a significant change, but Kistruck’s ability to adapt quickly and apply her strategic finance skills to a new industry helped her navigate the complexities of the fashion marketplace.
At Lyst, Kistruck was instrumental in overseeing financial operations while helping the company scale its platform, managing everything from inventory turnover to e-commerce strategies. Her time at Lyst demonstrated her versatility and ability to thrive in different marketplace environments.
Motorway: Leading Finance at a Rapidly Growing Startup
In 2023, Kistruck took on her most recent challenge as the CFO of Motorway, a UK-based platform that allows users to sell their used cars directly to dealers. Her role as CFO at Motorway is particularly significant, as it marked the company’s rapid growth from a startup to a more established player in the automotive market. Motorway’s business model leverages technology to streamline the used car sales process, disrupting traditional methods of selling cars.
As CFO, Kistruck is responsible for overseeing the financial operations, legal functions, and commercial analytics of the company. Her role is crucial as Motorway continues to scale its operations, providing the financial discipline and strategic oversight needed to maintain profitability while fueling growth. Under her leadership, the company has more than doubled its sales, reaching £1.7 billion in 2022, a testament to her ability to steer the company through high growth while maintaining a sound financial structure.
Kistruck has often spoken about the challenges and opportunities of working in a high-growth startup, particularly in balancing rapid expansion with long-term profitability. She embraces the challenge of maintaining financial discipline without stifling the startup’s agility and energy.
Liz Kistruck Leadership Philosophy and Approach
Throughout her career, Kistruck has demonstrated a leadership philosophy that combines financial acumen, strategic thinking, and cultural awareness. Here are some of the key elements of her leadership style:
Data-Informed Decision Making
Kistruck believes in the power of data and analytics to drive business decisions. At Expedia, Lyst, and now Motorway, she has consistently used data to guide financial strategies and optimize operations. However, she also emphasizes the importance of balancing data-driven insights with intuition and business judgment, especially in fast-changing markets where predictive models may not always be accurate.
Adaptability Across Industries
One of Kistruck’s key strengths is her ability to adapt across industries. From travel and fashion to automotive marketplaces, she has successfully navigated multiple sectors, bringing a fresh perspective to each one. This adaptability has allowed her to approach each new challenge with a combination of knowledge from previous roles and a willingness to learn quickly about new industries.
Commitment to Inclusion and Team Building
Kistruck is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within the workplace. At Motorway, she has been a vocal supporter of the company’s Women’s Chapter, a group designed to support female employees and promote gender balance in leadership. She believes in building a culture where everyone feels included and empowered to succeed, and she has worked to create environments that foster collaboration and mutual respect.
Liz Kistruck Public Recognition and Media Presence
Liz Kistruck expertise and leadership have not gone unnoticed. She has been featured in numerous media outlets and is increasingly recognized as a thought leader in the world of finance and startups. In interviews, she has shared insights into the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of financial discipline, and her thoughts on gender equality in leadership.
Her public profile continues to grow, especially as Motorway scales and she navigates the complexities of leading a growing financial function at a rapidly evolving company.
Liz Kistruck Personal Life and Privacy
While much of Kistruck’s professional life is well documented, she has largely kept her personal life private. There is limited information available about her family or personal interests, as she focuses primarily on her work and leadership roles. However, her advocacy for women in business and her leadership in corporate culture speak volumes about her values and priorities.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Kistruck’s career is a testament to the power of adaptability, strategic thinking, and financial discipline. From her early days in engineering to her leadership roles at some of the world’s largest digital marketplaces, she has consistently proven that she has the skills and vision needed to drive success in both large corporations and startups.
As CFO of Motorway, Kistruck plays a pivotal role in one of the UK’s most innovative companies. She is shaping the future of the automotive marketplace by helping Motorway scale rapidly while maintaining financial stability. Her leadership philosophy, which blends data, adaptability, and inclusion, sets her apart as a forward-thinking executive in today’s fast-changing business environment.
With a growing public profile and a track record of success across different industries, Elizabeth Kistruck’s influence will likely continue to expand in the years to come, making her one to watch in the world of finance and digital marketplaces.