Congress of Controllers
Congress of Controllers

The largest annual controlling conference in Europe
At the two-day Congress of Controllers in Munich, top speakers will talk about current challenges in corporate management and present possible solutions. The focus is on practical relevance and interaction with the controlling community as well as intensive networking. Highlights include the presentation of the ICV Controlling Excellence Award (new: Albrecht Deyhle Award for Controlling Excellence) and the ICV – Péter Horváth Green Controlling Prize.
Program Monday, April 28, 2025
FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Heimo Losbichler, FH Upper Austria, Chairman of the ICV Board and the IGC Board
Matthias von Daacke, BLANCO Group, Vice-Chairman of the ICV Board
War is raging on European soil in Ukraine. The Middle East is once again becoming an unstable powder keg. Trump’s return to the White House is fueling doubts about the predictability of our export nation’s most important trading partner.
At the same time, Germany is in the midst of a deep economic crisis and is once again threatening to become the “sick (and this time: old) man of Europe”. This multiple crisis situation has long since grown into a veritable crisis of confidence in the state, which is articulated in the collapse of the federal government. Too many people have lost confidence in politics and its decision-makers. As a result, the political system is fragmenting, while profiteers on the extreme fringes are using these centrifugal forces to manipulate and divide German society – from within and without – in their own interests.
What our country needs now is a new “idea of Germany”. A shared vision behind which the state, economy and society can come together to pull in the same direction. A new guiding principle that provides convincing answers to sprawling bureaucracy, system-threatening demographics and far-reaching doubts about our democracy.
An integral part of such a mission for the Republic must be the idea of establishing a modern digital state that meets its citizens and economy in the form of an innovative administration. At the same time, Bavaria is increasingly becoming the digital powerhouse of Europe and a genuine premium location for the technologies of the future. Our Free State is now perceived worldwide as the home of high-tech. From Germany’s first digital ministry, we are systematically developing our state into the place in the Federal Republic where the sound of the future is played.
Dr. Fabian Mehring, Member of the Landtag
Bavarian Minister of State for Digital Affairs
- Future lines of development in controlling
- How the core tasks of controllers could change
- The new DNA of controllers – soft skills or AI?
- Revolution or evolution – keeping pace with change
FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Heimo Losbichler, Dean of Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management,
FH Upper Austria, Faculty of Business and Management, Steyr
- Discover overlooked AI tools integrated in Excel
- Powerful data insights with Python in Excel for non-programmers
- AI outside Excel: Top Tips
Leila Gharani, Managing Director, XelPlus, Mödling near Vienna
- Insights into strategy work
- Definition of the management philosophy – transformation roadmap
Thilo Rieser, Head of Finance and Controlling and Head of Group Finance and Controlling, Henkell Freixenet / Henkell Co. Sektkellerei KG, Wiesbaden
Prof. Dr. Utz Schäffer, Director, Institute of Management and Controlling (IMC) at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar, Chairman of the ICV Board of Trustees
Moderation: Markus Steiner, Alpiq AG, Member of the ICV Board
- Business news and financial communication are the wrong role models for controlling.
- The conventional diagrams are too expensive and often misleading.
- Controlling and management are under pressure to be just as efficient as operational areas.
- Data visualization and reporting need more integrity and automation.
- What reliable formats are there and how well can they be automated with language or rule-based AI?
Dr. Nicolas Bissantz, CEO, founder and managing partner, AI pioneer, research entrepreneur, author, Bissantz & Company GmbH, Nuremberg
- AI – a trending topic with great potential
- Concrete AI implementation examples and practical experience
- It’s time to build!
Eberhard Bayerl, Partner
Michael Ginner, Director
KPMG Advisory GmbH, Vienna
- From analysis to forecasting – generating value with AI-supported data models in controlling
- Generative AI in the financial sector – smart communication and decision support
- AI Competence Center – building an innovation hub for Controlling & Finance
Claudia Maron, Head of AI/BI in Controlling and Finance
Max Fößel, Risk Manager
Stephen Walter, Business Analyst Controlling
DATEV eG, Nuremberg
Moderation: Judith Leopold,
KEYE Advisory GmbH, Head of the ICV Expert Work Group Change Management
- The subject of sustainability controlling: What is sustainability?
- Sustainability in the context of strategy and strategic controlling
- Materiality analysis in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): interface between controlling, risk management and sustainability management
- How do you measure sustainability and how do you evaluate investments in “more sustainability”?
Prof. Dr. Werner Gleißner, Member of the Management Board, FutureValue Group AG, Leinfelden-Echterdingen
- Our journey to the first audited CSRD report
- What next? What’s next
Günther Zumsande, Sustainability Specialist
Stefan Döbereiner, Sustainability Specialist, Focus: Environment
HUK-Coburg VVaG, Coburg
- How Helaba integrates ESG criteria into its business strategy and what role these criteria play in the evaluation of corporate performance.
- Impact of ESG factors on investment decisions and company valuation
- Holistic picture of ESG on the various levels/dimensions
Petra Sandner, Chief Sustainability Officer, Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, Frankfurt a.M.
Moderation: Dr. Tomasz Zielinski, Akademia Controllingu Sp. z o.o., Delegate ICV Poland
- Transformation of Controlling Processes: a Business Decision or Requirement for Survival?
- Scope of Changes in the Controlling Function: Simply Implementation of New IT Solution or a Greenfield Investment?
- Implementing Changes in Controlling Function: How to Reach the Final Destination Without Missing Your North Star?
Jacek Sitko, Head of Transformation Management Office in Controlling Dept., ORLEN S.A., Plock, Poland
Understand the strategic interplay between supply chain optimization and financial performance in navigating global competition and economic volatility.
Sabrina Bouchenak, Partner, The Boston Consulting Group GmbH (BCG), Cologne
The global automotive market has faced significant volatility in recent years. Reliable call-off figures have become a relic of the past across almost all markets and customers. Concurrently, cost pressures are mounting on both the customer and supplier sides, leading to a shift in margins.
BENTELER has adeptly navigated this ‘new normal’ with the following strategies:
a) boosting resilience
b) organizational realignment, and
c) refined risk management.
Tim Harrenkamp, Vice President Corporate Controlling, BENTELER International AG, Salzburg
Happy Hour in the exhibitor area & “Meet the Experts”. We would like to thank SAGE GmbH for sponsoring the sparkling wine!
Program Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- Market-oriented management of the sustainability transformation
- Controller in the role of “enabler”
- Managing the green transformation
- Digital solutions to support new, green businesses
Dr. Jochen Kurtz, Vice President Group Performance Management & Sustainability Reporting, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
Laudatory speech:
Prof. Dr. Reinhold Mayer, Chairman, Péter Horváth Foundation, Stuttgart
Matthias von Daacke, ICV
- Roadmap to digital transformation
- Use of data analytics and GenAI
- A look into the future
Yu-Kyung Rasche, Head of Data & Analytics in Global Business Controlling Adhesive Technologies, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf
Björn Ortelbach, Corporate Director Group Financial Planning & Analysis, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf
Kevin Rome, Head of BI & Digital Transformation, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf
China, India – and Europe? A wake-up call!
Prof. Dr. Manuel Vermeer, Owner, Dr. Vermeer Consult, Wiesloch
Matthias Walkner, Dakar Rally winner and exceptional athlete, knows the fine line between calculable and incalculable risks from his own experience. After a serious crash, he provides insights into what it takes to achieve top performance in the world class, to maintain control even under extreme conditions and to deal with setbacks. Let yourself be inspired by one of the best motor sportsmen of our time.
Matthias Walkner, Salzburg
Matthias von Daacke
We look forward to welcoming you to the 50th Congress of Controllers on April 27/28, 2026 in Munich.
Speakers at the Congress of Controllers 2025



Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler
Board of Trustees (ICV)
IGC Chairman, International Group of Controlling , Steyr
Dean of Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management, FH Upper Austria, Faculty of Business and Management, Steyr
E-Mail: heimo.Losbichler@fh-steyr.at

Claudia Maron
Head of AI/BI in Controlling and Finance, DATEV eG, Nürnberg
E-Mail: c.maron@icv-controlling.com




Markus Steiner
Member of the Management Board (ICV)
Alpig AG, Olten
E-Mail: m.steiner@icv-controlling.com

Matthias von Daacke
Chairman of the Management Board (ICV)
BLANCO Group, Oberderdingen
E-Mail: mvd@icv-controlling.com

Dr. Tomasz M. Zieliński
Delegate Poland
Akademia Controllingu Sp. z o.o
E-Mail: icv-poland@icv-controlling.com
FAQs
Members of the ICV: EUR 1.460,-
Non-members of the ICV: EUR 1.690,-
Early bird discount for registrations until:
31.12.2024: EUR 200,-
31.01.2025: EUR 100,-
28.02.2025: EUR 80,-
ICV functionary over 65 with over 10 years in office:
EUR 375.00; no early bird discount.
A limited number of places are available on request for students under the age of 30 with proof of enrollment at a price of EUR 375; no early bird discount.
Full-time lecturers at universities receive a discount on request at the ICV Office.
A discount for multiple registrations is available for ICV Corporate Memberships from the third registration.
The participation fee includes access to the online presentation documents, lunch, drinks during the breaks and meals as well as participation in the Happy Hour, the “Controllers Beer Garden” including buffet and drinks.
The participation fee is VAT-free in accordance with § 4 No. 22 UStG (DE).
If you cancel your registration by March 31, 2025, we will charge an administration fee of EUR 300. In the event of a later cancellation, the full participation fee will be charged. It is possible to provide a substitute participant.
Cancellation of an ICV event by us: We cannot reimburse you for any costs that you incur as a result of us having to cancel an event (e.g. hotel cancellation fees, fees for travel tickets that have already been booked). In such cases, we will of course refund any event fees already paid.
As an ICV member, you benefit from a significantly reduced participation fee. If you take part in other events or purchase ICV specialist literature, your savings may exceed the amount of the membership fee. Some offers are only available to you if you are an ICV member.
Become an ICV member right now. You can read more about this here.
The ICV Congress of Controllers begins on Monday morning and officially ends on Tuesday after lunch.
Monday, April 28, 2025
from 9.00 to 13.00 in the plenum (ballroom)
from 14.30 to 17.40 in the topic clusters
followed by “Happy Hour” in the Exhibitor Area
followed by “Controllers Beer Garden” from 19.00 to 23.30
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
from 9.00 to 13.00 in the plenum (ballroom)
followed by lunch together until approx. 14.00
Please make your own room reservation.
The Westin Grand Munich (Congress-Hotel)
EUR 204.00 per room/night, incl. breakfast
Book here at the exclusive Congress special rates
Four Points by Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel (directly opposite Congress-Hotel)
Our room contingent at special congress rates is fully booked. Bookings at hotel rates are still possible here.
An alternative hotel nearby:
Best Western Hotel Arabellapark Munich ( 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from the Congress Hotel)
Arabellastraße 13-15, 81925 Munich, Tel.+49 89 – 3803360
Are you a controller, CFO, financial expert, student or teacher in the field of corporate management? Then the ICV Congress of Controllers is the right place for you!
We look forward to seeing you!
Networking is important to us so that you can benefit from a personal exchange beyond the Congress itself. There will be plenty of time for this during coffee breaks, at lunch, at Happy Hour including “Meet the Experts!” and of course at the legendary “Controllers Beer Garden” with buffet and jazz band – all on site at the Congress Hotel.
Your contact for the Congress of Controllers is Managing Director Carmen Zillmer, c.zillmer@icv-controlling.com, phone +49 (0)8153-88 974-20.
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We reserve the right to change the program if necessary.