Cost and Risk Management Tips for CFOs: Interview with: Stephen Rue, Chief Financial Officer, News Limited, the Chairman of the upcoming marcus evans CFO Summit 2012, on cost and risk management.

1. Cost and
Risk Management
Tips For CFOs
In terms of cost cutting, CFOs should changing media environment. News
question everything that is done, look Limited has a large proportion of
to implement shared services, review the Australian newspaper market,
options for outsourcing, and consider but consumer habits are changing.
the delayering of management and Advertisers now have alternative
any opportunities to divest non-core options for marketing their products
assets. and services, and are looking for a
measurable return on their
It is also important to invest some investment. For us, the big challenge
savings back into areas of the is to continue to protect and support
business that can be grown. our traditional print business, while
Competitors may also be going growing a new digital business that
Interview: Stephen Rue, Chief through the same difficulties, so it will be seriously profitable in the
Financial Officer, News Limited might be an opportunity to gain future.
competitive advantage, grow market
share or hire top talent released from
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) competitors.
should consider cost-cutting
measures in conjunction with the
overall business strategy and not in
What risk management strategies
could you share?
Any cost
isolation, says Stephen Rue, Chief
Financial Officer, News Limited. Risk management is an essential part management must
of the CFO’s job today. The CFO
The Chairman of the marcus evans needs to look at all areas of the be done in
CFO Summit 2012, taking place in business and its strategies, from how
the Gol d Coa st, Qu e e nslan d,
Australia, 4 - 6 March, Rue discusses
business plans are being executed to
OH&S legal compliance. To ensure all
conjunction with
cost management, gaining market
share and risk management in
operational areas are covered, it is
best to engage the whole business.
the overall
today’s challenging economy. Key operational management has to
understand the importance of business strategy
How can organisations lower assessing the risk environment. They
their expenditure whilst are usually very conscious of issues
maintaining their competitive such as disaster recovery, business
edge in today’s economic and interruption, safety and poor
business environment? execution of plans. This is not
something done on a spreadsheet in Any final thoughts?
Any cost management must be the CFO’s office. It has to be
conducted in conjunction with the encapsulated through the whole The economy today is volatile.
overall business strategy. Cutting business. Similarly, the pace of change is
costs in isolation of a whole of accelerating; CFOs need to be
business plan can be dangerous. All As the CFO of News Limited, what incredibly vigilant in this environment
employees should see a purpose are your top challenges and how of increased business risk. They have
behind it, so it is critical to constantly are you tackling them? to think past the traditional role of
communicate a vision for the future the CFO and become the eyes and
at the same time. Our greatest challenge is the ears of their business.

2. About the CFO Summit 2012
The Finance Network –
marcus evans Summits group
This unique forum will take place at RACV Royal Pines Golf Resort & Spa, Gold
delivers peer-to-peer information
Coast, Queensland, Australia, 4 - 6 March 2012. Offering much more than any
on strategic matters, professional
conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together
trends and breakthrough
esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and
innovations.
interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on improved
finance strategies, technological innovation, astute leadership, and the impact of
climate change on finance.
www.cfo-anz.com
Please note that the Summit is a Contact
closed business event and the
Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits
number of participants strictly
Division
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About marcus evans Summits
marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss
strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to
individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-to-one business meetings.
For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com
Upcoming Events
CFO Asia Summit 2012 - www.cfoasiasummit.com
European Tax Summit 2012 - www.taxsummit.com
Tax Officers Summit 2012 (North America) - www.taxofficerssummit.com
To view the web version of this interview, please click here: www.cfo-anz.com/StephenRue