I’ve just come back from the Middle East where I attended our highly successful 6th ACT Middle East Annual Conference. Once again we played host to treasurers from across the GCC.
This year we also hosted the International Group of Treasury Association [IGTA] conference. Treasurers across the globe came together to network, swap case studies and discuss the latest regulatory, technical, and career professional development needs of the global treasury profession.We also found time to see the latest problem solving technologies that bank and technology service providers have to offer.
There were some common themes taxing us, the changing international tax environment one of them. However, the majority of discussions over refreshments centred upon how you find the next generation of treasury talent. Do you buy them as and when you need them, or do you take a medium term view and build a treasury talent pipeline (TTP) within your own business?
Etihad, voted “the world’s leading airline” for the past five years, has decided to build their own TTP. During the conference they announced that they are launching a two year international in house treasury graduate development program. This builds upon their distinguished success to date, as evidenced in the ME Treasurer this month. It seems an inspired learning and development strategy. Build your own treasurers—but showcase your programme to attract the brightest graduates to secure an even brighter future.
I wish them luck. Definitely ones to watch!
