Bob’s the President

"Change! New big figure" is the outcry. Bob may be your uncle, your builder, or even refer to that job that you were always going to get around to.

Not for us at the ACT, because step forward Bob Williams, MCT, as the ACT’s new President. Hopefully many of you would have seen Bob in action as he chaired day 2 and 3 of our action-packed Annual Conference in Liverpool. I know that Bob is looking forward to continuing the excellent work of his predecessor James Douglas. James launched our Royal Charter application campaign at our Annual Dinner in 2011. And I know that, if we are ultimately successful, Bob will be able to toast success at this year’s Annual Dinner on 14 November. As Bob mentioned at this year’s conference, he also wants to encourage more budding treasurers to take the MCT exams. Bob reminded us that it made a big difference to his career and will encourage you to do the same.

Bob is the Regional Finance Director with Barratt Developments. He has built a very successful treasury and finance career having been Group Treasurer at both Barratts and Allied Domecq with other earlier corporate roles at Nortel Networks, Reckitt Benckiser and Lovells. (Read his profile in The Treasurer here). I’m looking forward to working with Bob during his Presidency.

Clarity in a complex world was the theme of this year’s Annual Conference in Liverpool. Once again the ACT’s events team did us proud. We had excellent speakers; a packed programme with thought-provoking content; we showcased the latest in treasury technology and developments; and had a magnificent gala dinner in Liverpool cathedral. Thank you to all the sponsors, exhibitors and delegates for making the event so spectacular. We look forward to welcoming you back again next year. If you couldn’t make it this year but want to see the main speeches, please visit our website.

To me, the key conference messages were loud and clear. The regulatory environment is set to become even more complex as the financial market place is reshaped. However the danger is that the real economy will be adversely impacted by these changes and the tiny shoots of economic growth are trampled on before they have chance to fully emerge (read more in Martin’s blog on "The real economy matters"). Of course, you need well-informed and well-qualified treasury professionals in your businesses to help steer a clear course for the future. As the west repairs itself, that future is increasingly going to have a greater eastern influence as discussed in Peter’s blog The shift from east to west". Embrace the opportunities. You can read the conference blogs and press coverage on our website and delegates can access the slides on the annual conference page, with some of the key speeches also available on our main site. If you aren’t already a member of our facebook page, make sure you ‘like’ our page and stay tuned for the impressive montage of photos to come.

Finally we raise a glass to toast the European Association of Corporate Treasurers (EACT) 10th anniversary celebrations this month. We continue to work closely with the EACT and their members to make sure that the potential (and unintended) adverse financial effects on the real economy are fully understood by politicians and policy makers. Hopefully they may then craft appropriate legislation to reshape the financial markets and restore confidence and growth in our respective economies. It seems ‘hope’ is most often talked about when you have so little of it.

Having wished for rain last month.....let’s hope it cheers up this month. Can’t wait? Why not join the talkingtreasury team this month in Abu Dhabi. Failing that, I can predict fine weather for our Risk Management breakfast briefing event in Birmingham at the end of the month. I hope to see you there.
All the best

By Colin Tyler