Topic 2 : Corporate responsibility : governance and financing of fair development

In the most common legal forms of business organisation, shareholders occupy a central, fundamental position. But, in companies operating in knowledge-based economies, in which services are the most important component, the employees tend to occupy this key position, due to the nature of the business and the forms of work organisation in this type of economy.

The debates surrounding mergers and takeovers show that the issue of recognising and taking account of the roles and contributions of the various actors in the performance and development of companies has taken on critical importance, and expresses a growing demand for democracy in business.

This workshop will aim to identify the types of company or corporate governance which best ensure that the various actors participate in the strategic decision-making processes, and that the wealth generated is shared.

The discussion will look at the experience of companies that have established an original form of governance involving all the stakeholders. It will also include input from other types of companies, such as cooperatives and membership organisations.

The discussions will address several fundamental questions:

• How can we move away from a logic that favours the creation of short-term value for shareholders and promote instead investments for the long term?
• What strategies would bring together all of the stakeholders, to adopt a forward-thinking approach, and to develop means of anticipating and steering change in a sustainable manner?
• What new organisational types and governance would be most capable of striking a balance between economic and social concerns?

This Workshop has been prepared in coordination with the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants d’entreprises (CJD).

Speakers

Workshop Moderator: Paul Dembinski, Director, Observatoire de la Finance, Switzerland

Case Study Presenters:

• Thierry Bourgeron, Director, Human Resources, Casino Group, France
• Bruno Lebuhotel, President, Union Régionale des SCOP Rhône-Alpes (URSCOP), France
• Javier Salaberria, President, International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers’ Co-operatives (CICOPA)
• Harry Touret, Director for Human Resources, SEB Group et Philippe Desmarescaux, Member of the Board, SEB Group

Discussants:

• Pierre Habbard, Political Adviser, Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD (TUAC)
• Alain-Charles Martinet, Professor, Lyon III University, France
• Véronique Morali, Vice-President, President of the economic dialogue commission, MEDEF, France
• Amy O'Meara, Head, Corporate Action Network, Amnesty International US, USA
• Jean-Pierre Sicard, Director of Sustainable Development, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, France