The International Controller Association (ICV) has successfully expanded its controlling philosophy to neighboring countries through internationalization. ICV now has a presence in twelve countries through working groups and conferences. ICV supports the development of local controlling expertise through knowledge sharing and activities between countries. The goal is to increase benefits for members by allowing them to expand their networks and problem-solving skills internationally.

1. Internationalization
ICV
success continues
Well-known and respected in German-speaking countries, controlling has been
decisively shaped by Dr. Dr. h. c. Albrecht Deyhle and the International
Controller Association (ICV). The key aim of ICV’s internationalization strategy
is to root this controlling philosophy in neighboring countries.
ICV has made further progress over the past working group leaders and their management
months; growth and consolidation are the order of teams. I should like to take this opportunity to thank
the day, internationalization has been embedded you all very much for your magnificent, voluntary
in the association’s business plan for the coming commitment.
years. With the foundation of the first working Besides further personal memberships, ICV is also
group in Slovenia in March 2008, ICV is now ac- seeking cooperation and corporate memberships
tive in twelve countries. Poland is now abreast of in the “new countries” where entire teams, especial-
Germany, Austria and Switzerland with eleven re- ly from the controlling or financial sectors will bene-
gional working groups and the annual “Control- fit from the expertise transfer in the association.
Siegfried Gänßlen ling Intelligence Advantage” conference. Another development field is establishing contacts
Chairman of the International
to academics and university teachers. With their
Controller Association (ICV)
A key element of internationalization is exchan- help, the ICV concept of sustainable controlling is
ging products and experiences both within the va- to be discussed, developed and disseminated: The
rious countries and across borders. ICV supports ICV seeks their expertise for the academic under-
the development of local controlling expertise with pinning of its philosophy. And, as in the German-
a range of activities. This benefits both corporate speaking countries, the association offers acade-
global players with their expansion in Europe and mics and teaching staff a further benefit: access to
regional and local companies. The association’s business practice and project support.
declared aim is also to increase the individual be-
nefits for personal members by allowing them to This second issue of the “Controlling International”
expand their knowledge, network and problem- supplement reflects the successful internationaliza-
solver skills with ICV. tion of the ICV in recent months. The reports from
Creating a common language base is the prerequi- the nine Central and Eastern European countries
site for improving the integration of non-German focus on the growing challenges confronting con-
speaking members in the organization. This is why trollers as a result of the financial crisis. In doing
ICV translates its main publications for controllers so, the important contribution by controllers to-
outside German-speaking regions into English or, wards shaping a successful future is emphatically
from case to case, in the respective national langu- underscored.
age. International ICV conferences in Lithuania,
Estonia, Poland and Russia have already been
conducted on a multilingual basis. The ICV website
is multilingual.
Association managers play an important role in all Siegfried Gänßlen
ICV countries. Our organization should therefore Chairman of the ICV board
continuously improve its support especially to these CEO Hansgrohe AG
2 CONTROLLER Spezial | Controlling International