The PwC Network provides member firms with the flexibility to operate as both local and global businesses. Each firm retains the agility to respond quickly and effectively to local market conditions, but enjoys the benefits of the PwC Network’s shared resources, methodologies, knowledge and expertise.

Each PwC firm upholds a common set of policies and maintains agreed quality standards. In September 2008, PwC firms around the world endorsed a new PwC Network model, which has allowed our organisation to align its strategy around the world more closely. Quite rightly, clients are the ultimate beneficiaries of the improved effectiveness of this global Network.

Leadership roles

The UK firm plays an important leadership role within the global PwC Network. Ian Powell (Chairman and Senior Partner of the UK firm) has joined Dennis Nally, the new Chairman of the PwC Network, as a member of the five-person Network Leadership Team. UK partners Paul Boorman (Operations), Richard Collier-Keywood (Tax), Moira Elms (People and Culture, Brand and Communications), and Peter Wyman (Public Policy and Regulatory Matters) are all members of the Network Executive Team.

New global chairman

Dennis Nally was elected Chairman of the PwC Network for a four-year term beginning on 1 July 2009, following the retirement of Samuel DiPiazza, Jr. Dennis has served as the Chairman and Senior Partner of the PwC United States firm since 2002. He joined the US firm of PwC in 1974 and became a partner in 1985.

Thought leadership

The UK firm continues to play a major role in contributing to global research and thought leadership, aiming to provide insight into the key market issues that affect our clients.

• The prestigious 12th Annual Global CEO Survey which was launched at the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2009 is just one example (pwc.com/ceosurvey).
• Paying Taxes, a joint publication between the World Bank and PwC, examines and compares tax regimes in 181 economies around the world and ranks them according to the ease of paying taxes. (pwc.com/payingtaxes). The Paying Taxes data is produced as part of the World Bank – IFC’s Doing Business study (doingbusiness.org).

The UK firm also contributes to the global industries programme, providing thought pieces on the most important issues for the industry sectors we support. These are firmly anchored in the business issues with which our clients are wrestling; visit pwc.com/managingthroughthedownturn for a range of such publications and podcasts including:

• The day after tomorrow, a series of perspectives outlining PwC’s view on a reshaped global landscape for the financial services industry.
• Managing IT through the downturn, helping companies achieve reductions in IT operational costs and discretionary spend, as well as providing the tools and infrastructure to help the business do more with less.
• Fraud in a downturn, considering whether fraud and integrity threats are changing during this period of economic decline and, if so, how.
• A world beyond recession: Global utilities survey 2009, looking at the impact of the events of the past year, through the views of senior utility company executives, and ahead at the world that lies beyond the downturn.
• Automotive Institute Analysis 2008, providing a unique quarterly perspective on the trends, challenges and growth areas for automotive companies seeking to survive the econmic downturn.

Global mobility

A strong mobility programme is vital to delivering the PwC Experience. Our ability to support our clients, wherever they are in the world, relies on our agility. Over the past 12 months, 2,866 partners and staff (2008: 3,228) from PwC member firms in 100 countries (2008: 103) were posted internationally on short and long-term transfers or assignments.

In May 2009, the firm’s Global Mobility team won an award for technological innovation in relocation for the second year running.

Charles Macleod, Director of Global Mobility and Resourcing, said: ‘International assignments bring our Network to life both for our people and for our clients. The opportunity to work alongside colleagues from around the world, to learn from them and to bring that collective knowledge to bear for the benefit of our clients – that’s the PwC Experience.’

Educating the children of Darfur

In June 2008, PwC firms in collaboration with UNHCR undertook a unique and highly successful fundraising drive called the Power of 10. The purpose: to raise funds from PwC firms’ workforce of 155,000, to enable the UNHCR to provide a level of education to Sudanese refugee children in Eastern Chad that was previously unobtainable. £2m was raised, representing the largest single private sector donation ever received by UNHCR.

Working with UNHCR, PwC helped develop a project to support the long-term sustainable educational needs of refugee children. The focus was on developing and taking forward new standards for the education of refugee children. This project is known as Educating the Children of Darfur.

The funds have been targeted to aid four refugee camps located in eastern Chad where, until now, the educational needs of the Darfur refugee children have gone unmet. Use of the funds will focus on building schools, training teachers and providing school supplies to some 30,000 Darfur refugee children aged 6 to 14. Over the long term, the UNHCR plans to work with the Chadian Ministry of Education in order to integrate the refugee schools into Chad’s national educational system.