Bridgestone 2013 Annual Report Download - page 14

12 Bridgestone Corporation
compensation matters that involve corporate ofcers who
are not concurrently serving as board members.
In addition to compliance with laws, regulations, and
the articles of incorporation, the Company has formulated
a structure to promote compliance and basic policies,
which call for members of the Board, corporate ofcers,
and all Bridgestone employees to conduct themselves in line
with the corporate philosophy, so that the Bridgestone Group
can maintain the trust of its stakeholders. A unit dedicated
to handling compliance, which is overseen by the Chief
Compliance Ofcer (CCO), has responsibility for the operation
of a compliance helpline, which provides compliance-related
advice to employees, as well as for promoting compliance-
related education for directors and employees. Recognizing
the importance of compliance activities as an element
of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Bridgestone has
established the Compliance Subcom mittee, which is
chaired by the CCO and is a subcommittee of the Integrated
CSR Enhancement Committee, which is chaired by the CEO.
Moving forward, Bridgestone will continue to advance
compliance activities as one facet of its CSR activities.
Risk management activities, led by the Chief Risk
Ofcer (CRO), focus on the identication and mitigation of
operational risks and the implementation of measures—as
outlined in a basic risk management manual—designed to
prevent both small-scale accidents and large-scale
incidents. The CRO is also responsible for contingency
planning activities which include the formulation and
review of business resumption plans aimed at restoring
operations as quickly as possible in the event of any
disruption. In line with the recognition of the importance
of risk management in CSR, Bridgestone has previously
established the Risk Management Committee, which is
chaired by the CRO and is a subcommittee of the
Integrated CSR Enhancement Committee. Moving forward,
Bridgestone will continue to nd additional ways to
strengthen the system to comprehensively manage risks
that could have a major inuence on the operating
activities of Bridgestone and other Group companies.
Bridgestone has formulated internal policy guidelines
regarding the protection of personal data. In addition to
developing and implementing a management system
based on this policy, all employees of the parent company,
Bridgestone Corporation, undergo privacy training and are
provided access to related awareness programs to address
this important issue.
On May 1, 2006, the Board of Directors instituted an
ofcial company policy governing internal control systems;
the Company reevaluates its activities in this area each year,
working to ensure appropriate internal controls. In regard
to the Japanese Financial Instruments and Exchange Act,
and in particular to the section regarding the evaluation of
internal control systems to assure the reliability of nancial
reporting and related information, Bridgestone will work
to ensure an effective and reliable system of internal
controls on a Group-wide basis and to further raise the
level of internal control throughout the Group.
Bridgestone has no connection whatsoever with
antisocial forces or groups that threaten public order and
safety, and takes a resolute stand against such activities.
A department has been established to evaluate information
received regarding such matters and take necessary action
to ensure compliance with this policy, and the Company
has worked to build relationships of trust and cooperation
with external institutions, such as the police and other
related organizations. Bridgestone is working to create
a manual for dealing with inappropriate or illegal requests,
evaluating contracts and the parties thereto to ensure
their appropriateness and that they have no relationship
with any organizations or groups that are illegal or
threaten public order or safety, and implementing other
related measures. Bridgestone will strive to see that these
measures are widely known and will continue to strengthen
internal systems aimed at identifying any such groups,
programs, or initiatives with which the Company may
come in contact.
Status of audits by the corporate auditors, the
internal auditors, and the independent auditors
The corporate auditors conduct their audits based on
policies determined by the Board of Corporate Auditors.
Directorial conduct oversight involves a number of auditing
activities, including attending meetings of the Board of
Directors and other important meetings, interviews with
directors to ascertain the status of operations, reviews of
important business documents, and on-site audits of
business ofces. Moreover, the corporate auditors meet
with the representative directors to exchange information
and opinions and hold meetings with the corporate auditors
of major Bridgestone subsidiaries in Japan. Bridgestone has
established the Corporate Auditor Ofce with dedicated
staff as the organization to support the corporate auditors.
Corporate Governance, Compliance, and Risk Management