As this year’s International Annual Review clearly demonstrates, our record of achievement over the past year has been notable. We’ve been delivering on our global growth strategy and have made significant investments in our business. We’ve further enhanced our ability to deliver a consistently high level of client service around the world and have made important contributions to our communities and our environment. We’ve experienced growth in revenues and talent across key markets and practice areas. And – of particular importance today – we have contributed to the public interest debate on the need to strengthen confidence in the audit profession.
In my travels this year, I have met with more than 400 CEOs and have noted a continued decline in business confidence and increasing concern about the scale and scope of regulatory change, both of which are having a deep impact on our business and our profession.