Deutsche Telekom Names The Conference Board's Matteo Tonello to Panel of Experts to Investigate its Corporate Culture

News provided by

Aug 18, 2016, 01:34 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deutsche Telekom announced Wednesday the appointment of Matteo Tonello, Managing Director of Corporate Leadership at The Conference Board, to a panel of experts formed to strengthen the company's ethical and compliance culture. Other experts on the panel include former President of the Bundestag and German federal minister Rita Süßmuth, and the Chairman of the Global Values Alliance Foundation Klaus M. Leisinger.

The decision was prompted by recent cases of reputational damage suffered by prominent public companies around the world, after the exposure of widespread shortcomings in their systems of compliance. It recognizes the need for corporate compliance procedures to establish a value-oriented corporate culture, where employees are not only aware of risks but also have a clear commitment to compliance. "Establishing what's called a compliance management system is not enough to prevent, investigate and punish rule breaking. A corporate culture where employees are comfortable to speak out against inappropriate behavior also has a vital role to play," said Thomas Kremer, member of the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management for Data Privacy, Legal Affairs and Compliance, in a statement released by the company on August 17.

The appointment recognizes the long-standing commitment by The Conference Board to promote the highest standards of transparency and ethical behavior among its member companies and in the broader business community. "We are honored to join this important initiative, which is an example of how boards and management can proactively seek to reinforce public trust in business," said Jon Spector, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board. "The Conference Board will be well represented on this body of experts by Matteo, who has been working with our members on risk and compliance issues for a number of years."

Tonello heads the corporate leadership practice at The Conference Board, assisting member companies on issues of corporate governance, risk management and sustainability. He has conducted analyses and business research in collaboration with leading corporations, institutional investors, and professional firms. In 2010, he was named by the National Association of Corporate Directors to the Directorship 100, a list of the most influential experts in corporate governance in the United States. He is a member of the Network for Sustainable Financial Markets and has served on the Advisory Council of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, with more than 156 million mobile customers, 29 million fixed-network lines and around 18 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2015). The Group provides fixed-network/broadband, mobile communications, Internet and Internet-based TV products and services for consumers, and ICT solutions for businesses and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom has a presence in more than 50 countries and employs about 225,000 people worldwide. The Group generated revenues of 69.2 billion Euros in the 2015 financial year—roughly 64 percent of it outside Germany. In the United States, Deutsche Telekom operates through its T-Mobile US subsidiary, a major wireless network operator in the country.

To read Deutsche Telekom's statement, visit http://www.telekom.com/media/company/320450

About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conferenceboard.org

SOURCE The Conference Board