Maureen Short has 30 years of financial leadership experience across public companies in the retail, fintech, consumer, entertainment, and telecommunications sectors. She currently serves as a CFO Advisor at Gartner. In this role, she provides strategic guidance on financial strategy, governance, transformation, and long‑term value creation to CFOs of public companies and large enterprises. Through Gartner’s CFO Advisory Practice, she helps finance leaders strengthen their organizations, elevate decision‑making, and execute the initiatives that drive sustainable performance.

Previously, Maureen served as a Board Member and Audit Committee Chair at Big Lots and was the Chief Financial Officer of Upbound Group, the parent company of Rent‑A‑Center and Acima. As CFO, she led Finance, Accounting, Investor Relations, Treasury, Internal Audit, Procurement, and Risk Management. Her background includes experience in FP&A, strategic planning, M&A, investor relations and activism, operational efficiency, turnarounds, distressed environments, crisis management, public capital markets, and data analytics. Earlier in her career, Maureen held leadership roles in Strategic Planning and FP&A at Blockbuster and served in Internal Audit at Sprint Telecom and Southwestern Bell. She is also Directorship Certified with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Maureen holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Florida.

Inspired by a lifelong love of animals, she stays active in volunteering and fostering animals, and believes every pet deserves a loving home. Outside of work, Maureen enjoys time with family, friends, and her dog Charlie.