Vlerick Business School, Vlerick Alumni and BIMAC invite you to a top networking event for financial controllers and managers. We've defined a conference programme in which you will focus on the renewed role of the controller driven by changes in today's business models. Join us for this full day conference, or - as Vlerick alumnus - join us for just the evening session and meet your former classmates and peers.

The role of the controller in a changing business model
Storing and sharing information between different entities has never been so easy and cheap nor resulted in the creation of so many new business opportunities. If you want to be successful today, you need to embrace the fact that the way we do business is changing at an ever-faster pace.
More than ever, this also impacts the controller. Innovative information services, restructuring and rebuilding Porter’s Value Chain, changes in expectations towards the controller’s role and responsibilities – these are only a few of the challenges controllers are being confronted with. And more evolutions and displacements are being predicted to define the landscape in which the controller will operate. How can controllers proactively initiate and manage change as it occurs? Or, dare we say that the future of the controller can be put into question?...
Join the largest controller community in Belgium and engage with renowned faculty and business presenters to keep you on your toes and learn. Gain insights on the evolving role of the controller and pitch in to the discussions, network with your peers and share ideas and experiences.
Programme
Regularly check the programme website for updates!
09:30 |
Morning coffee & registration |
10:00 |
Welcome & introduction by Christian Pauwels
Keynote: Paolo Quattrone – Management control goes digital: will this move make controllers wiser? |
12:30 |
Walking lunch |
13:45 |
Panel Debate - “Vision on the digitalization of business models by PwC, KPMG, E&Y, Accenture and TriFinance” |
14:30 |
Omar Mohout (Growth Engineer at Sirris): New business models in SAAS and impact on pricing |
15:10 |
Boss Data: Matthias J. Laqueur, Online Marketing Specialist - Analytics & E-Metrics at BossData - Metrics that matter in e-commerce |
15:50 |
Coffee break |
16:30 |
Doccle: Bram Lerouge, General manager - Business model, used metrics & financing model |
17:10 |
Tradeshift: Gert Sylvest, VP of Platform and Technology, co-founder at Tradeshift - Business model, used metrics and financing model |
17:50 |
Wrap-up & closing |
18:00 |
Reception & interactive trade |
19:00 |
Introduction by Professor Filip Roodhooft
Keynote - Peter D’Hayer: Business Analytics Specialty Architect at IBM: Dr Watson - Has the controller a future? |
20:15 |
Networking dinner |
Keynote speakers:
Paolo’s keynote address
It is commonplace to state that we now all live in a digital era. But what does this mean for accountants and controllers? What effects will this revolution imply for controller’s daily work, their ability to make decisions and exert judgment for strategic planning? These are some of the questions that Paolo Quattrone will explore during his talk. Through a provocative excursus of the history of accounting and control practices, he will provide material to reflect on the possible changes that the raise of information technologies and business analytics have in the ways in which we run organisations. In other words, under which conditions more and quicker information means better knowledge?
About Paolo Quattrone
Paolo Quattrone is Professor & Chair of Accounting, Governance and Social Innovation at the University of Edinburgh Business School. His work addresses questions related to the emergence and diffusion of accounting and managerial practices in historical and contemporary settings. He has published widely on the interface between management control & information technologies (especially ERPs), the history of accounting & management practices and thinking. As a Fulbright New Century Scholar at Stanford University, he conducted research on changes in business models and education.
About Peter D'Hayer
Peter D’Haeyer build up a global experience in business application and integration software and focused over the last years on Business Intelligence, Performance Management and Business analytics solutions, combining good business knowledge with a broad technical knowledge.
He is currently working as a Business Analytics Specialty Architect at IBM, providing best in class business solutions, with a focus on the Financial sector and Insurance. As Watson Analytics Evangelist, he introduces business users into breakthrough innovative cognitive ways to recognize patterns in data, get and share insights that lead to accelerated and better decisions.
Sponsors