Viktualienmarkt, Marienplatz, Olympia Park, and Residenz - Munich is a city with many facets. Exuberant joy of life and enthusiasm for sport can be found here just as much as an awareness of its historical roots, which reach far back into the Middle Ages. But agility, openness, and the willingness to think outside the box are also part of this city's DNA.
So, it's exactly the right place for me to start with my team as Head of Governance, Risk & Compliance, and Chief Compliance Officer of the TRATON GROUP. I will be based in Munich for three years, where colleagues from the holding and across all brands will support me.
We make sure that the uniform and cross-brand rules and values of the TRATON GROUP are adhered to, created, and implemented. For example, guidelines that apply to employees at all levels and in all brands define how employees should handle gifts and invitations, and how they can behave with absolute integrity in critical situations – with the help of a traffic light system.
Before coming to Munich, I worked for 13 years at Navistar, the last 7 as Chief Compliance Officer in Lisle, USA. In my new role, I have had to become further educated on international regulatory requirements.
For example, the German Supply Chain Act and data protection/privacy play a much different role in Germany and Europe than in the US. TRATON's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) department also takes care of these demanding and detailed tasks. A particularly exciting challenge is to clarify how processes can be designed so the activities of each brand harmonize locally with the corporate culture at our locations worldwide. Here, it is also important that the cultural background of the respective country and the specific conditions prevailing there are present.
In everything we currently do now and in the future, the TRATON spirit is a reliable partner: we are a team and can talk about everything directly and openly.
I have felt this time and again in my many conversations with colleagues. Of course, personal discussions with colleagues on site are also important. A few weeks ago, I was in Sweden at Scania and will soon visit our other brands to continue these important conversations in-person!
I see Munich as a city that stands for quick exchange and short distances: it takes 15 minutes via the underground from my flat to the TRATON headquarters in Hanauer Straße. From here, I can reach Marienplatz or Viktualienmarkt, with its market stalls, bakeries, and restaurants in a few minutes by underground. My personal favourites are the pretzels and obatzda (German beer cheese), I love them so much!
Things are changing very quickly - what we have to focus on today will be very different in six months due to changed political and world situations. This, however, is precisely why a company like TRATON must keep a constant eye on these developments in order to react accordingly. This agility is made possible by good corporate governance, reasonable risk minimization, compliance with guidelines and regulatory orders, and integrity among employees. In short, we must do the right thing at the right time and be committed to taking responsibility.
It's like football, which we Americans call soccer: With team spirit, skill, and commitment, (almost) any challenge can be resolved!
A few days ago, I had a visit from my husband. We strolled around the Viktualienmarkt, explored the city center, and ate pretzels. Incidentally, he convinced me to accept the Chief Compliance Officer position at the TRATON GROUP in Munich. Although we are newlyweds, he encouraged me to take advantage of this unique opportunity. It's such a strange feeling when family and friends are so far away, but fortunately, there is the telephone and video chatting. When my husband is in the US, I talk to him twice daily on FaceTime; I call my father and sister at least three times a week. I often talk about my experiences in this bustling city, my new home, for three years. Fun fact: Munich is also an excellent starting point for excursions to the Alps, so sometimes we also talk about the beauty of the nearby Alps - and that after 25 years, I've finally stood back on skis again!
Best regards,
Your Darcy
