17th WHU Campus for Controlling

Professor Utz Schäffer, who co-hosted the conference with Professor Marko Reimer, opened the conference with his presentation on "The Future of Controlling – Results of the 5th WHU Study on the Future of Controlling", in which he reported on the trends the industry faces currently.

The presentation by Greg Vlasek, Group SVP, Head of ABB Way Finance Transformation Program, ABB Ltd, presented his company's “Journey to Being the Best Finance Organization”. In four phases, ABB has driven a modernization project focusing on leadership, communication, and collaboration, paving the way for the financial transformation of the future.

After our networking lunch break, Dr. Steve Morlidge, Core Member of the Beyond Budgeting Institute, provided insights into the practical implementation issues faced by companies and their Controlling departments in a beyond budgeting transformation and, most importantly, how they can be overcome.

Christian Schätz, CFO of Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, spoke under the title of “How Finance Leaders can Catch the AI Wave” about digitizing the finance function and how finance leaders can use AI and machine learning to master the transformation Controlling is facing.

Dr. Dieter Kahling, Corporate VP Group Controlling, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, gave the closing keynote of the WHU Campus for Controlling. Thereby, he explained the strategic decisions in Henkel’s Supply Controlling and the role of Supply Controlling as a business partner of Procurement at Henkel.

We thank our keynote speakers and all participants for this lively and inspiring conference – and look forward to welcoming you all back to the WHU campus in Vallendar for the 18th WHU Campus for Controlling on September 6, 2024!