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MGI delegates head for Mexico City

Almost 100 delegates travelled from around the globe to Mexico City for MGI’s 2008 AGM.

Hosted by MGI Bargalló Cardoso Asociados a long-standing MGI member, the meeting from 22-24 October attracted 84 delegates and 57 accompanying companions from 24 countries.

Opening the meeting, MGI worldwide chair Andy Grout, highlighted steps being taken to strengthen MGI, including the adoption of a new strategic plan, the appointment of Clive Miéville as executive director; the launch of the new brand identity and the progress made by the European Co-ordinating Committee.

A key issue for the AGM was the effect of the new EU Audit Directive and its requirement for the independence of auditors from their audit clients and for firms belonging to accountancy networks to ensure their independence from audit clients of other network members. MGI is currently seeking legal advice to confirm its status as an association rather than a network.

Robin Sewell, the UK’s representative on MGI’s international committee, said: “This issue was discussed at length and I am pleased to say that the UK is at the forefront in guiding the association through this minefield.”

Arthur Baguely, chair of the international committee gave an overview of activities in MGI’s eight areas – Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and the UK and Ireland – with support from area representatives from the committee.

Keynote speaker Monica Magaña, managing director of Landor Associates – a world leader in branding and design consultancy – in  Mexico endorsed MGI’s rebranding process with her presentation How to Create a Brand. The presentation was followed by break-out group sessions facilitated by Joe Tarasco of Accountants Advisory Group, LLC.

Joe’s presentation Creating the Firm of the Future focused on how to take a firm to the next level of success, with tips on how members could help to improve professional techniques in recruitment, marketing, career development and performance management. 

Daniel Becker Feldman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Grupo Financiero Mifel, S.A. spoke on The Current Financial Crisis: Risks and Opportunities and responded to delegates’ questions.

Andy Grout closed the meeting, telling delegates: “I truly believe that this is an exciting time for MGI.”

Thanking everyone for their participation and Jose Carlos Cardoso for organising the AGM, he concluded by thanking Des Caulfield for his services as a member of the international committee from 1997 before being elected in 2002 as a member of a managing committee and chair of MGI between 2003 and 2005. 

He also thanked Andreas Gregoriou, Ziad Salem, Goffedo Caverni and Arthur Baguley retiring members of the international committee and congratulated Arthur Baguley on his election by the international committee to membership of the managing committee and to Carlos Pan on his election as chair of the international committee, both with immediate effect.

The next MGI AGM will be held in Paris from 14-16 October 2009, hosted by Gilles Vermeren and Lysian Krol of FCN.