News

Bogotá, Colombia − We usually discuss and publish articles and recommendations on the things that executives – the leaders of organisations – need in order to perform to the utmost and be the best leaders they can be. However, we sometimes forget that these executives, these great leaders, were once up-and-coming young hopefuls with big ideas and a strong will to win, always seeking companies that would give them the opportunity to develop their talent.

Madrid, Spain – The most recent forecasts from the Bank of Spain predicted that the national economy would increase by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2015. In 2014, the bank predicted that economic growth would increase by 2% through 2015, but has since raised this projection to 2.8%. The European Commission and IMF have also raised their forecasts to 2.8% and 2.5%. 2014 was the first year since the 2008 real-estate crash that Spain experienced economic growth (1.4%).

Sofia, Bulgaria - All major corporations and a significant number of small and medium entities have a Chief Financial Officer (CFO – also known as a Financial Director). The CFO is responsible for the company's day-to-day financial accounting and reporting, and the overall strategic direction of its development. The CFO is also the Executive Director's right-hand man, and a key figure on the Board of Directors, as he actively participates in defining the company's long-term strategy, evaluating…

May 19th, 2015 - Munich, Germany - Slowly but surely, governments and legislators are becoming aware of the need to integrate women further into the corporate world. It is widely recognized that women should be encouraged to take more prominent top roles, not just because they have a right to do so, but because their potential and skill sets are of incredible value, and the perfect complement and a necessary balance to the strengths of men.

19. Mai 2015 - München, Deutschland - Langsam aber sicher erkennen Regierungen und Gesetzgeber, dass es nötig ist, Frauen umfassender in die Geschäftswelt einzubinden. Es ist eine allgemein anerkannte Tatsache, dass Frauen bestärkt werden sollen, wichtige Ämter zu übernehmen: nicht nur, weil sie das Recht dazu haben, sondern weil ihre Leistungen und Fähigkeiten – als perfekte Ergänzung und notwendiges Gegengewicht zu männlichen Stärken – von unschätzbarem Wert sind.

May 5th 2015, Johannesburg, South Africa - 2015 is a crucial year for Africa’s economic development. Summits in Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Paris and New York will facilitate international cooperation, with Africa and its partners playing critical roles in shaping the continent's economic future. In September, at the United Nations General Assembly, global leaders are presumed to sanction Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Africa is at the forefront…

Hong Kong, China - From a global perspective, the number of women in executive positions has stagnated in recent years. In corporations, around 50% of employees in entry-level occupations are women, with the proportion of women in senior and management roles drastically declining. Globally speaking, only 3-4% of CEOs are women. Grant Thornton International Business Report states in its 2014 annual survey that the percentage of women in senior positions remains at 24%, unchanged from its findings…

April 20th 2015, Dubai, UAE - The Gulf countries are gradually transitioning from oil-based economies to services and knowledge-based economies. Within this transition, it is becoming critically important to leverage the availability of the existing foreign human capital pool (expatriates), and at the same time diversify risk by accelerating investment in higher education institutions, start-ups and IT innovations – creating a skilled talent pool to address the anticipated economy growth.

While it is important to choose the right candidate for all Steering Committee positions, it is doubly important to make the right choice for the CFO, who works with sensitive, complex and confidential information. A good CFO helps make sound decisions, anticipate contingencies, assess risks and ensure liquidity. Equally, choosing the wrong CFO carries significant business and reputational risks.

Si para posiciones de Comité de Dirección es importante elegir bien al candidato, en el caso del CFO es doblemente importante.  El CFO trabaja con información sensible, compleja y confidencial. Un buen CFO ayuda a tomar decisiones acertadas, adelantarse a posibles contingencias, evaluar riesgos y asegurar la liquidez. Sin embargo, elegir mal al CFO conlleva importantes riesgos de negocio y reputacionales.