FDs interested in innovation - but scared.

Innovation rather than accounting standards was the theme of a keynote talk given by Dennis Sherwood (pictured), the UK managing director of Californian think-tank SRI Consulting, at the FD Forum in June. A delegate survey conducted at the event showed considerable interest in innovation on the part of FDs, with three-quarters expressing a strong interest to find out more. Almost 90% said that their companies should be doing more to foster innovation. A third said their organisation was not inherently innovative. But almost 40% said that innovation could be dangerous for them personally. Sherwood, who had a difficult time in finding “volunteers from the audience” to assist with his presentation – the lightning strike through his head may not have helped – said of the survey findings: “If the FD can’t change the culture, who can?”