Shaping a governance framework, managing risks, and complying with regulatory requirements are obviously crucial efforts for any company. But they are inevitably moving targets, and more so all the time. Risk management has soared to the top of company to-do lists, propelled by the implosion of the risk-embracing financial services sector, heightened focus on risk disclosure from the SEC, high-profile product recalls, and increasing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prosecutions. Everyone — from regulators and rating agencies to shareholders and customers — is pushing for companies to prove they are under control. Boards are feeling the pressure and passing it on to management, most certainly including finance leaders.

Most experts agree that it increasingly makes sense to manage governance, risk, and compliance (or "GRC") in a highly coordinated way in order to most effectively handle that pressure and, from an even more practical standpoint, avoid conflicts and wasteful overlaps. Many companies are moving in that direction, but it can be an uneasy transition, requiring broad cultural changes, identification of willing champions, and difficult technology choices.

During this Webcast, moderated by CFO senior editor David McCann, panelists Joe Atkinson of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Chris McClean of Forrester Research will address:

• The business case for GRC
  
  
• Who is best suited to lead a GRC initiative
  
  
• How to get the project going
  
  
• What a successful implementation looks like and how to measure it
  
  
• How to evaluate technologies and vendors
  
  
• Your questions

Joseph Atkinson, Principal, Advisory Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Joseph Atkinson is a principal in the Advisory Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and leader of the firm's U.S. Governance Risk & Compliance Services group. PwC's GRC practice is focused on helping companies evaluate and implement effective enterprise risk architecture and improve their compliance processes.

Atkinson has led the development of PwC's core GRC methodologies and tools, regularly trains PwC professionals, clients and industry practitioners on the core principles of effective risk management. He graduated from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University with a B.S. in Finance. He is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, among other professional organizations. He is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Information Systems Auditor.


Chris McClean, Analyst, Forrester Research

Chris McClean is an analyst with Forrester Research and leader of the firm's governance, risk, and compliance coverage. He serves Forrester clients with research on GRC and corporate social responsibility strategies, organization, best practices, and technologies, and he is a frequent speaker on these subjects at industry and vendor events.

Before coming to Forrester, McClean's background was in marketing for security and risk management vendors, representing a broad range of market segments, such as compliance management, vulnerability management, digital forensics and security information management.




Joseph Atkinson Principal, Advisory Practice PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP	Chris McClean Analyst Forrester Research