Deloitte Announces $300 Million Investment In Its People

Leading professional services firm to build 107-acre learning facility
NEW YORK, June 30, 2008 — Deloitte LLP announced today that it will invest approximately $300 million in the creation of a state-of-the-art learning and leadership development center in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in Westlake, Texas. Construction on the new facility will begin in 2009 and the center is expected to open in 2011.

The facility will serve as a central destination for all of Deloitte’s talent, including everyone from new hires to senior leadership to partners, principals and directors. The 750,000-square-foot campus will have 800 guest rooms.

“As our industry evolves faster than ever before, Deloitte’s learning and leadership development center will enable our people to take the lead in shaping the future of our profession,” said Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer, Deloitte LLP. “We expect this facility to become the heart of our organization — the place where we meet, learn and develop our next generation of leaders.”

The facility will feature multiple conference spaces and classrooms that will house thought leadership events; events with professors from nationally recognized universities and colleges; and networking events. All of the facilities’ activities will enable people to develop and grow as a result of their connection with business and industry leaders, academia, mentors and colleagues.

The facility will also feature dining venues, a ballroom, a business center, recreational facilities and a fitness center. The campus will be constructed according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. Green considerations are a top priority for all aspects of this project, including design, materials, engineering and supplies.

In addition to the direct benefit for Deloitte and its people, the facility is expected to provide economic benefits to Westlake and the Dallas/Fort Worth region.

Source: Deloitte

PricewaterhouseCoopers Predicts Olympics Medal Counts

Yahoo Sports says that a PricewaterhouseCoopers report predicts that China will edge the US in total medals for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

“As the host nation in Beijing and (with) an economy which has grown very strongly since 2004, the medal ‘target’ of 88 for China according to our model is much higher than its actual medal totals in Athens (63) or Sydney (59),” said John Hawksworth, the report’s author.

China was third in overall medals at Athens 2004, behind first-place United States (102) and Russia (92). China was second in gold medals behind the U.S. in 2004—32 to 36.
— Study: China will top United States in Beijing medals

It is also worth noting that PwC’s Chinese firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPA, is “accounting services supplier” for the Games.

Angelina Jolie on PwC global web site

PricewaterhouseCoopers will celebrate its 10 year anniversary on July 1st since its merger with Coopers & Lybrand in 1998.
To mark the big event the global leadership team has decided to raise money to build educational facilities in Chad for refugees fleeing the conflict of Darfur.

This initiative is in the particular area of interest of famous movie star, Angelina Jolie, being an UN Godwill Ambassador at the same time. To mark the World Refugee Day, she is asking us to remember the millions of families who have been forced to flee their homes. Short video with the top-star is placed on PwC website.

A statement made by the global chief executive Samuel A DiPiazza said:

'We have achieved much in the last ten years and when we work together as a team we have enormous power. Therefore, it seemed fitting that we mark this occasion in a way that celebrates PwC at our best – by harnessing the power of our organisation to make a meaningful difference to the global community in which we live and work.'

Corporate Social Responsibility is a growing trend in the global business community as the firms and big companies promote their environmental and ethically conscious decisions.

DiPiazza continues that global firms and professional services should team up together for various initiatives.

'The biggest professional services firms in the country can team up together and adopt one single initiative that can be sustained for the next five to 10 years (like adopt a small river and ensure its ecological sustainability).'

The tax profession is also enhancing its ethical credentials as the trend increases of graduates seeking good CSR policy when making decisions on which firm to join.

PwC UK appoints 80 new partners

PricewaterhouseCoopers has announced the admission of 58 new partners in addition to 22 recruited externally during the course of the year.

The new partners span all areas of the Big Four firm’s businesses and regions, with 29 appointed to the assurance practice, 26 to the advisory practice and 25 to the tax practice.

Of the new intake, 29% are female, the highest number in the history of the firm, which today celebrates the 10th anniversary of the merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand.

Ian Powell, PwC’s UK chairman and senior partner, said:

‘I am delighted to welcome so many great new partners. As market leader we know that we must continue to recruit and retain the best talent.‘Developing a more diverse talent pool at all levels continues to be a priority for the firm.’

Source: Accountancy Magazine