UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2018

TEXT Anne Hänninen   PHOTOGRAPHY Janne Lehtinen, UPM

ACCORDING TO Stephania Bresque Jettar (left), Markus Skrabb and Shelley Shao, the goal of the Compliance team is to keep the right way of doing things in the minds of every UPMer. UPM ENJOYS A VERY GOOD reputation as a trustworthy partner, which is an asset in all its partnerships, both internal and external.

“Our employees understand that integrity and compliance helpmitigate risks, internally and externally, but we need to keep working to root this in everybody’s mindset and decisions made every day,” says Shelley Shao , Compliance Counsel in APAC. Setting the bar high UPMhas its own compliance team to embed a culture of integrity in the corporate DNA. As UPM grows, it is vital that all employees apply the same standards all around the world. In recent years the compliance team has expanded fromEurope to Latin America and Asia Pacific. “Our vision states that integrity, together with our competence and drive, makes us unique, which sets the bar very high for us. This applies not only to our policies and procedures, but to our people as well. Not only must they understand how to do the right thing, but they must want it, too,” states Skrabb. “Personally, I believe in leading by example, putting integrity first inmy own work and asking myself whether I comply with the standards expected of me,” says Stephania Bresque Jettar , Compliance Counsel for Latin America. Having a regional compliance counsel makes it easier for colleagues to ask for advice and support in everyday decisions. “People understand that the compliance team is not some internal police looking for misconduct, but

“Our vision states that integrity, together with our competence and drive, makes us unique, which sets the bar very high for us,” says Markus Skrabb.

Growing BY DOING THE RIGHT THING

we can actually add value to our business by helping people make the right decisions that mitigate our potential risks,” Shao points out. Speaking up without fear Although the integrity mindset has to be the same around the world, local compliance counsels know the culture and its peculiarities, local business practices, laws and regulatory risks, so they can give more practical and value-added advice to the business. UPM fosters a speak-up culture by encouraging everyone to voice their concerns whenever they notice any misconduct or unethical behaviour. The compliance team is always ready to help employees with any questions or concerns. “In Latin American culture, it’s not always easy to come forward, so we have to work hard to get across the idea that speaking upmeans

building a company for all,” Bresque emphasises. The flipside of speaking up is listening up. “Our managers not only need to communicate our compliance policies and practices to employees, but they must also take the time to listen to their concerns and ideas,” Skrabb says. UPMembraces a speak-up culture where employees can report misconduct without any fear of repercussions, from the company or colleagues. “When people come to us worried about something, we need to assure them that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and independently, that there will be no retaliation against them, and express that the company appreciates them for their effort. We value people like this,” Shao says. 

I

ntegrity in business means following a strict ethical code aligned with the company values. This applies across all interactions: with employees, customers, suppliers, investors – everyone. “In today’s business environment, having integrity isn’t just a feel-good thing. It’s an important asset in our decisionmaking, management and operations. This is why it’s included in UPM’s vision and is the backbone of our Code of Conduct,” says Markus Skrabb , UPM’s Chief Compliance Officer. “Our purpose, vision, and whole strategy is based on sustainability and responsibility. Without integrity, we cannot achieve either goal. And in working toward those goals, every choice matters,” adds Skrabb. UPMenjoys a very good reputation as a trustworthy partner, which is an asset in all its partnerships, both internal and external. What is more, adhering to high ethical principles not only helps to meet stakeholder expectations, but also to comply with increasingly strict laws and regulations.

Integrity is an asset that needs to be built both bottom-up and top-down. Business success boils down to an individual mindset of wanting to make the right choices.

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