CGI Jahreskonferenz
Corporate Governance at a Crossroads: Insights, Debates, and Solutions
The CGI Annual Conference 2026 brings together leading academics, practitioners, and institutional investors to discuss the future of corporate governance in the USA and Europe at a critical turning point.
Across keynotes, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions, the conference will explore conflicts and solutions in areas such as accounting and auditing, governance challenges in digitalisation and artificial intelligence, corporate perspectives on shareholder activism and board responsibilities, and the evolving role of institutional investors.
Hosted in person at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management on 12 February 2026, the event offers a high-level forum for reflection, debate, and practical insights for anyone engaged with transparency, sustainability, and effective governance in a changing regulatory environment.
Date
Time
Location
Language
The CGI Annual Conference 2026 brings together leading academics, practitioners, and institutional investors to discuss the future of corporate governance in the USA and Europe at a critical turning point.
Across keynotes, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions, the conference will explore conflicts and solutions in areas such as accounting and auditing, governance challenges in digitalisation and artificial intelligence, corporate perspectives on shareholder activism and board responsibilities, and the evolving role of institutional investors.
Hosted in person at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management on 12 February 2026, the event offers a high-level forum for reflection, debate, and practical insights for anyone engaged with transparency, sustainability, and effective governance in a changing regulatory environment.
Agenda
9:45
Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz
Präsident und Geschäftsführer der Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
Prof. Dr. Julia Redenius-Hövermann, LL.M. und Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktoren Corporate Governance Institute
Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00
Stephen M. Davis, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow,
Harvard Law School Program on Corporate Governance
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Klaus J. Hopt, MCJ (NYU)
Emeritus (Direktor),
Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht Hamburg
Moderation: George Dallas, MBA
Head of Content,
European Corporate Governance Institute
Corporate Governance in the USA and Europe at the Crossroads: The Academic Perspective
11:00
Rachel Empey
Aufsichtsrätin BMW, Deutsche Telekom AG und ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Prof. Dr. Bernd Roese
Partner/Leitungsteam Familienunternehmen und Mittelstand und Standortleiter
Frankfurt am Main, PwC Germany
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Christina E. Bannier
Professorin für Banking and Finance,
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Fragen der Rechnungslegung und Wirtschaftsprüfung
12:00
Prof. Dr. Johannes Adolff, LL.M.
Rechtsanwalt/Partner, Hengeler Mueller, apl. Professor, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M.
Dr. Stefan Ebener
Manager Customer Engineering für Google Cloud, Leiter eines EMEA-weiten
Machine Learning- und KI-Expertenteams
Moderation: Dr. Hiltrud Ludwig
Senior Advisor for Digital & AI Transformation
Governance Fragen zu Digitalisierung und Künstlicher Intelligenz im transatlantischen Kontext
13:00
Lunch break
14:00
Dr. Kai H.E. Liekefett, LL.M./MBA
Partner, Co-Chair Shareholder Activism and Corporate Defense Practice,
Sidley Austin LLP
Dr. Friederike Rotsch
Lead Independent Director des Aufsichtsrats, SAP SE
Prof. Dr. Norbert Winkeljohann
Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats, Bayer AG, Stellvertretender Vorsitzender des
Aufsichtsrats, Deutsche Bank AG
Moderation: Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktor Corporate Governance Institute
Die Perspektive der Unternehmen und Lösungsansätze
15:15
Caroline Escott
Head of Investment Stewardship & Co-Head of Sustainable Ownership, Railpen
Ola Peter K. Gjessing
Lead Investment Stewardship Manager, Norges Bank Investment Management
Claudia Kruse
Chief Sustainability & Strategy Officer, APG Asset Management
Dr. Antje Stobbe
Head of Stewardship, Allianz Global Investors
Moderation: Prof. Hans-Christoph Hirt, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Strategic Governance and Investor Stewardship, IMD, Lausanne
Dealing with the Changed Environment by Institutional Investors
16:30
Prof. Dr. Julia Redenius-Hövermann, LL.M. und Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktoren Corporate Governance Institute
Conclusion and Outlook
Agenda
9:45
Prof. Dr. Nils Stieglitz
Präsident und Geschäftsführer der Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
Prof. Dr. Julia Redenius-Hövermann, LL.M. und Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktoren Corporate Governance Institute
Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00
Stephen M. Davis, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow,
Harvard Law School Program on Corporate Governance
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Klaus J. Hopt, MCJ (NYU)
Emeritus (Direktor),
Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht Hamburg
Moderation: George Dallas, MBA
Head of Content,
European Corporate Governance Institute
Corporate Governance in the USA and Europe at the Crossroads: The Academic Perspective
11:00
Rachel Empey
Aufsichtsrätin BMW, Deutsche Telekom AG und ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Prof. Dr. Bernd Roese
Partner/Leitungsteam Familienunternehmen und Mittelstand und Standortleiter
Frankfurt am Main, PwC Germany
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Christina E. Bannier
Professorin für Banking and Finance,
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Fragen der Rechnungslegung und Wirtschaftsprüfung
12:00
Prof. Dr. Johannes Adolff, LL.M.
Rechtsanwalt/Partner, Hengeler Mueller, apl. Professor, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a.M.
Dr. Stefan Ebener
Manager Customer Engineering für Google Cloud, Leiter eines EMEA-weiten
Machine Learning- und KI-Expertenteams
Moderation: Dr. Hiltrud Ludwig
Senior Advisor for Digital & AI Transformation
Governance Fragen zu Digitalisierung und Künstlicher Intelligenz im transatlantischen Kontext
13:00
Lunch break
14:00
Dr. Kai H.E. Liekefett, LL.M./MBA
Partner, Co-Chair Shareholder Activism and Corporate Defense Practice,
Sidley Austin LLP
Dr. Friederike Rotsch
Lead Independent Director des Aufsichtsrats, SAP SE
Prof. Dr. Norbert Winkeljohann
Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats, Bayer AG, Stellvertretender Vorsitzender des
Aufsichtsrats, Deutsche Bank AG
Moderation: Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktor Corporate Governance Institute
Die Perspektive der Unternehmen und Lösungsansätze
15:15
Caroline Escott
Head of Investment Stewardship & Co-Head of Sustainable Ownership, Railpen
Ola Peter K. Gjessing
Lead Investment Stewardship Manager, Norges Bank Investment Management
Claudia Kruse
Chief Sustainability & Strategy Officer, APG Asset Management
Dr. Antje Stobbe
Head of Stewardship, Allianz Global Investors
Moderation: Prof. Hans-Christoph Hirt, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Strategic Governance and Investor Stewardship, IMD, Lausanne
Dealing with the Changed Environment by Institutional Investors
16:30
Prof. Dr. Julia Redenius-Hövermann, LL.M. und Prof. Christian Strenger
Direktoren Corporate Governance Institute
Conclusion and Outlook
Registration
Given the limited number of places, timely registration and confirmation are required.
Participation Fee
Regular: EUR 450
FEA and AdAR Members: EUR 300
Researchers: free of charge
To receive a reduced participation fee, please register as normal via the website, select “payment by bank transfer”, and then send an email including your proof of eligibility to Mago Konopnicka: m.konopnicka@fs.de
