Template: a note to the group CFO before you introduce the US subsidiary

Send the group CFO a short note that asks one question: would the US subsidiary's leadership be open to a conversation about licensing its operational records to AI developers through SourceX? Say that you are a referral partner who may receive a share of SourceX's fee, request no data, and let the group decide who speaks next.

When to write to the group CFO first

Write to the group CFO first when your relationship is with headquarters rather than the US team, or when the group runs finance, legal or IT centrally. A US president who learns about a data conversation from an outsider before the parent does may feel exposed; a CFO who hears it first can point you to the right person and clear the way.

This note is the right opening in four situations:

You advise the parent and have met the US leadership only in passing.
The US subsidiary reports to a group finance function that signs off on contracts above a set limit.
Group policies centralize decisions about data, systems or privacy.
The group is reviewing its US presence, and any new conversation should go through headquarters.

If you know the US CEO well and the subsidiary runs with real autonomy, introduce SourceX to the US CEO directly and copy the group CFO as a courtesy. Before either route, confirm the US business looks like a fit using the screen in can you refer a US company owned by a foreign parent.

The templates

Version A: first note by email. Replace everything in braces.

Subject: A question about {us_subsidiary}, not a proposal Dear {first_name}, I work with {group_name} on {your_engagement}, and I have a question about {us_subsidiary} rather than anything to sell. SourceX helps established US companies license historical operational records, such as support tickets, CRM history and internal documents, to AI developers for a one-time payment. The company keeps ownership, agrees the scope, price and terms, and nothing is binding until it signs. The companies that fit are US businesses with 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded) and several years of records across their systems. From what I know, {us_subsidiary} may fit, but only its own team can say. Would its leadership be open to a short conversation with no commitment? If so, who should I introduce SourceX to: {us_leader_name}, or someone in group finance? For transparency: I am a registered SourceX referral partner. If an introduction I make leads to a completed licensing deal, I could receive a share of SourceX's fee once the buyer has paid and SourceX has received its fee. That share is never deducted from what the company receives. I am not asking for any data or documents, and I will not share anything about {group_name} with SourceX beyond the subsidiary's name and the contact you choose. Kind regards, {your_name}

Version B: short message for LinkedIn or a messaging app, when you already talk that way.

Version C: one follow-up after about a week and a half with no reply.

How to personalize it

Element	Personalize with	Avoid
Relationship line	The actual engagement, such as the FX hedging review or the US tax provision work	Vague praise for the group
Why the subsidiary may fit	One observable fact: years in the US market, an approximate headcount band, a long-running support desk	Guesses about what its records contain
Who to introduce	The named US president, CEO or CFO	Asking the CFO to forward it internally with no context
Reward disclosure	One plain sentence: you are a partner and may receive a share of SourceX's fee	Typed amounts, percentages or estimates
Language and register	The language and formality the CFO uses with you	Translating the facts loosely; keep ownership, consent and the signing point exact
Sign-off	Your name and role only	A long firm signature implying the firm endorses SourceX

The introduction email builder can draft the later note to the US leader once the CFO points you there.

Timing and follow-up

Group CFOs run on a reporting calendar, so aim between deadlines rather than across them.

Moment	Why it matters	Suggestion
Month-end and quarter-end close	Inboxes are full of reporting	Send in the second or third week of the month
Year-end audit fieldwork	The CFO is with auditors	Wait until fieldwork closes
Budget and planning season	New income ideas are on the agenda	A good time for a short, factual note
US system migration or ERP rollout	Old systems may be retired	Raise it early, before archives are switched off
Review of the US business	Headquarters is weighing a sale or closure	Say licensing can sit before or alongside either path

Send one follow-up, then stop. A silent CFO is an answer for now; note the date and revisit only if circumstances change, such as a new US leader or a migration plan.

What never to include

Requests for system lists, exports, sample files or descriptions of records. Partners make introductions and give basic fit information only.
Promises about price, timing or buyer interest. The company agrees price and terms after its own review, and no outcome is certain.
Typed reward figures. Say you may receive a share of SourceX's fee and leave the details to the published program terms.
Names of AI companies presented as SourceX buyers. Refer to AI labs and data buyers.
Any suggestion to bypass group approvals or to contact the US team after the CFO has asked you to go through headquarters.

If you also advise the group as its auditor or in another role with independence or conflict rules, check those rules before sending anything. The pre-registration checklist for advisers outside the US covers that review.

After the CFO replies

Yes, talk to the US leader. Send your referral link to the named US executive; it opens sourcex.si/apply with your code attached. Alternatively, submit the company through the referral form. Copy the CFO if they asked to stay informed.
We need to check group policy on data first. Thank them and wait. If they ask why, the explainer on who owns data in a shared group system shows the questions their team will work through.
Send more information. Point them to how it works and to sourcex.si/apply for the company's own view.
Not now. Thank them, record the date and do not chase.

Next step

Pick the version that suits your relationship and send it this week. If you have not joined yet, register as a partner first so your referral link is ready when the CFO says yes.

Step 1Share your linkSend your personal link to a company you know.
Step 2Company appliesThe company applies itself at /apply.
Step 3Buyer selects and paysThe buyer selects and pays for the data and SourceX receives its fee.
Step 4You get your rewardYour share of SourceX fees becomes payable.

Common questions

Should I copy the US subsidiary's CEO on the first note?

Usually not, when your relationship is with the parent. Copying the US CEO before headquarters has had a chance to respond can put them in an awkward position inside the group. Ask the CFO who the right contact is, then write to that person and copy the CFO if they want to stay informed.

Do I have to mention the reward in the very first message?

Disclosing it at the start is the safer practice. A group CFO will ask how you are involved, and hearing about a referral reward later undermines trust. Some professional rules also require disclosure of referral fees. One sentence is enough: you are a SourceX partner and may receive a share of SourceX's fee if a deal completes.

What if the CFO asks how much the subsidiary could earn?

Do not estimate. Price depends on what the company's records contain, how far back they go and what buyers want, and it is agreed with the company after its data inventory. You can say the company receives one all-in price with SourceX's fee included and a one-time payment, typically within about 60 days of invoicing once a buyer selects the data.

Can I send the note in the group's own language?

Yes, and it often lands better. Keep the facts precise in translation: the company keeps ownership, nothing is binding until it signs, no data is requested, and you may receive a share of SourceX's fee. Do not add figures or claims that the English version does not make.

What if the CFO forwards my note to group legal?

That is a normal step and usually a good sign. Legal may want to read how the process works and what the company would sign. Point them to the public explanation of how SourceX works and let the company lead. You do not need to supply anything beyond the basic fit information you already gave.

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By SourceX Partnerships Team · Published 2026-10-09 · Updated 2026-10-09

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