Borrowers: Company-at-risk

Corporate risk management is advancing dramatically because of computer power, communications, the Internet, and the value-at-risk (VAR) concept borrowed from banks. Several companies are leading the charge, and attempting to quantify risks that aren't just financial. But can that help the treasurer do his job? By David Shirreff.

Borrowers: Borrowers start to play a strategic game

The privatized French treasurer

How they do it

Hands up which major industrial companies have a head of corporate risk management. Very few today. But several are working on it. Edgar Wittmann, head of corporate risk management has the title at Siemens, the German electronics group, and is setting up an independent division “to provide risk awareness throughout the company”. It will operate outside the corporate treasury and won’t hedge or manage risks itself.

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