Audi 2015 Annual Report Download - page 204

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE // CORPORATE MANAGEMENT DECLARATION // COMPLIANCE
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FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Audi Group is continuously developing the principles for
the management and monitoring of the Company. For exam-
ple, in the first half of 2015 we introduced a new set of leader-
ship principles with the in-depth involvement of the Board of
Management, managers and employees. The challenges of
digitalization and electrification require our Company to set
aside appropriate financial and human resources. We create
the necessary leeway for these important future topics through
various efficiency initiatives in particular. With the corporate
program Audi ultra, we are creating a framework for topics
such as the conservation of resources, sustainability in the value
chain and social involvement in the interests of our internal and
external stakeholders. We are also making swift progress with
the strategic and organizational development of our Company.
From an organizational viewpoint, for example, we are making
the product creation process even more efficient by increasing
model-series responsibility.
Integrity and transparency are important elements of our value
system. We address the threat of irregularities and misconduct
by continuously optimizing the reporting and control systems
in sensitive areas of the Company.
CORPORATE MANAGEMENT
DECLARATION
The corporate management declaration pursuant to Section
289a of the German Commercial Code (HGB) contains both the
Declaration of Conformity by the Board of Management and
Supervisory Board pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock
Corporation Act (AktG) and disclosures on corporate governance
practices. The methods and practices of the Board of Manage-
ment and Supervisory Board as well as the committees estab-
lished and gender quotas are also described. The corporate
management declaration is permanently available on the
Internet at www.audi.com/corporate-management.
COMPLIANCE
The aim of compliance is to ensure that members of the Audi
Group operate within the rules. A preventive compliance ap-
proach is adopted with the aim of eliminating in advance any
opportunities to breach the rules. The Group-wide Code of
Conduct provides the basis for this approach.
The Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) area is in charge
of compliance activities across the Group as a whole and is led
by the Chief Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the
Chairman of the Board of Management. He is supported in this
function by the 26 compliance officers of the subsidiaries.
A further 16 risk compliance coordinators work in the individu-
al divisions of AUDI AG, acting as multipliers in relation to
compliance issues. The Compliance Management System (CMS)
was further expanded in 2015. The annual compliance program
is an essential tool for the creation of a uniform starting point
for all compliance activities throughout the Audi Group.
For the purposes of further increasing employee awareness of
compliance issues, a new communication campaign was
launched in the period under review. The campaign revolves
around the values of team spirit, responsibility, respect, trust,
honesty and fairness.