Embedded in the strategy
The Board of Directors of Swisscom is committed to pursuing a strategy oriented on sustainability. The Board addresses economic, ecological and social issues in plenary sessions and in the various Board committees. Implementation of the strategy is delegated to the CEO Swisscom Ltd. The CEO can transfer powers and responsibilities to subordinate units and is supported in operational management by the members of the Group Executive Board.
The Group Communications & Responsibility division is responsible for the implementation of the CR strategy.
Responsibility of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for approving the long-term CR strategy. It acknowledged the present governance report and targets for 2014 and approved the strategic priorities. The Board of Directors is informed in quarterly reports on the implementation status of the CR strategy and achievement of targets. The Board of Directors also makes decisions on expanding the scope of the CR strategy to include domestic and foreign subsidiaries.
Responsibility of the Group Executive Board
The Group Executive Board convenes once a year to discuss the further development of the CR strategy and four times a year to discuss its implementation. In November, it reviews the past year and approves the goals for the coming year.
The Group Executive Board has the following controlling instruments at its disposal, which were introduced in 2010:
- Weekly reports prepared by Group Communications & Responsibility, with information on measures and trends
- Quarterly reports, with information on the key performance indicators based on the strategic priorities
- Quarterly reports drawn up by Risk Management
In March 2011, Group Executive Board members and members of the Executive Board of Swisscom Switzerland were nominated as internal sponsors for the priorities of the CR strategy. They are responsible for progress and performance within their respective priority areas. The areas of responsibility are aligned to the core tasks of the respective Group Executive Board members and defined as follows:
- Overall management: Head of Group Communications & Responsibility
- Sustainable living and working: Head of Residential Customers, Head of SME,
- Head of Corporate Business and the CEO Swisscom IT Services
- Sustainable use of resources: Head of Network & IT and CFO Swisscom Ltd
- Telecommunications for all: Head of Residential Customers
- Responsible employer: Head of Group Human Resources
This ensures that the priority areas are binding and firmly embedded in the company.
Role of Group Communications & Responsibility
The Group Communications & Responsibility division or, more specifically, the central CR team attached to this division, is responsible for coordinating implementation of the CR strategy and leveraging synergies across all divisions. The CR team’s specific tasks include:
- Drawing up the CR strategy (goals/priorities) in conjunction with line and support units
- Supporting the sponsors from the Group Executive Board and the Management Board
- Coordinating the implementation of the strategy and the initiation of measures
- Formulating the requirements for implementation of the CR strategy
- Engaging in dialogue with stakeholders
- Engaging in dialogue with strategic partners (including NGOs)
- Reporting to internal and external stakeholders
- Liaising with the Group Business Steering division for the purpose of sustainability reporting and drawing up the Annual Report
Line units and the corporate responsibility network
Depending on the strategic priority in question, measures are implemented in project teams or line units. Further management members are designated for each division and these persons are responsible for implementing the measures at operational level in close collaboration with the CR team. An event is held at least once a year involving all of the members of the CR network for the purpose of exchanging information and addressing new topics.
Members of the Group Executive Board are their responsibilities
The diagram below illustrates the responsibility the members of the Group Executive Board and the Management Board have in providing support and advice to the line units.
