The classic “Corruption Equation” consists of demand coming from government officials receiving bribes and supply coming from individuals and businesses offering bribes. The supply side of the equation is increasingly covered by laws that place heavy penalties and reputational damage on large companies engaged in corruption. Without doubt, this is a powerful motivation for behavioral change. But small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) respond to a different set of incentives.
Severin Wirz, an experienced anti-corruption compliance professional, will explore the steady rise of companies’ anti-corruption compliance obligations globally. He will discuss where SMEs fit into this landscape and how organizations such as CIPE can support the promotion of business culture of integrity and thus strengthen democratic institutions.
Panelists:
- Severin Wirz, Senior Director for Anti-Corruption & Compliance at TIAA and co-chair of the ABA’s Anti-Corruption Committee
- Ekaterina (Katya) Lysova, Program Officer for Europe & Eurasia at CIPE
About:
TIAA (tiaa.org) is a Fortune 100 financial services organization and leading provider of asset management and retirement services for the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. At present, TIAA has 375 offices in 24 countries and over $970 billion in assets under management with holdings in more than 50 countries. Severin is also a member of the ACGC’s Advisory Board.
Prior to joining TIAA in 2017, Severin worked at TRACE International, the non-profit, membership organization, and as an anti-corruption consultant in Nairobi, where he specialized in helping local companies implement anti-corruption programs. He began his career in anti-corruption in 2008 while working on the Nigeria Bonny Island corruption case at the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. He is the co-editor of the book, How to Pay a Bribe: Thinking Like a Criminal to Thwart Bribery Schemes.