Executive implemented a new management model, going beyond economic aspects, introducing social and sustainability components into the association's operations
Sao Paulo, March 31, 2022 – The board members of ABES – Brazilian Association of Software Companies meet today, the 31st, to elect a new board. After three years at the helm of the association, Rodolfo Fücher will hand over the position of president to another representative after increasing the number of associates by 9% – the highest growth in the last decade – and achieving important milestones for the sector. Among them, the approval of changes to the LGPD and PEC 17, the unconstitutionality of ICMS collection in software operations, extension of the payroll tax exemption and the joining of the association to Rede Brasil do Pacto Global, linked to the UN Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, which aims to mobilize the business community in the adoption and promotion of good corporate practices.
“We were able to position ABES as a platform, seeking to meet the desires of the sector, where the most relevant topics started to be discussed in a productive and agile way, with the participation of authorities, Brazilian and international specialists”, explains Fücher. Regulatory topics were the most popular among the more than 80 virtual roundtables open to the public, which reached the mark of 4,000 participants. Among the various events held, including webinars and international meetings with Canada, Portugal, Colombia, Israel and China, ABES created and expanded business opportunities for Brazilian entrepreneurs. This was possible thanks to the transformation of the ABES management model – from hierarchical to matrix – that is, the president is no longer the central point of decisions, becoming the facilitator of the demands and needs of the associates.
Initiatives aimed at promoting best ESG practices, in line with the SDGs, in front of its associates and the market in general were also a highlight of this management. Last year, the entity avoided the impact of 47 tons of greenhouse gases and 296 kg of toxic metals to the environment by properly recycling 25 tons of obsolete ICT equipment. It is the result of the mobilization for the reduction of inequality promoted by ABES in partnership with ReUrbi and Observatório do Terceiro Setor, and with the support of Weber Shandwick, whose objective is to support socio-digital inclusion projects through resources obtained through the recycling of equipments. Each ton recycled has the potential to impact 600 people.
Another important initiative led by ABES is the An Ethics Company program, whose purpose is to encourage the adoption of the highest ethical standards in dealing with internal or external matters; improving processes and procedures, following the best international practices. The initiative offers training on compliance with a certificate of participation, a Whistleblower Channel and a Model Code of Ethics and Conduct, which can be adapted to activities and a variety of business models. More than 200 certificates have already been issued.
“My passion for innovation could not be left out. We also opened a special chapter for startups, through an internship program, lasting 6 months, free of charge, in which we have 16 partners, including investment funds, accelerators and incubators”, comments Fücher.
With the purpose of building a more digital and less unequal Brazil, Fücher gave a new direction to the entity, which now has as its central objective to ensure that the Brazilian technology market is innovative, ethical, sustainable, dynamic and globally competitive. Under his management, 418 new companies joined ABES, which expanded its regional presence, mainly in the North and Northeast, which grew by 36% and 25%, respectively. Currently, ABES represents more than 2,000 companies in the technology sector, 77% of which are micro and small companies, in addition to most national and multinational big techs, such as IBM, Totvs, Intel, Google, AWS, Microsoft, Facebook. In total, ABES members represent 85% of market revenue, making the association considered the most solid entity in the technology sector.
About ABES
ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies) aims to contribute to the construction of a more digital and less unequal Brazil, in which information technology plays a fundamental role in the democratization of knowledge and the creation of new opportunities for all. In this sense, it aims to ensure a business environment conducive to innovation, ethical, dynamic, sustainable and globally competitive, always in line with its mission to connect, guide, protect and develop the Brazilian information technology market.
Currently, ABES represents approximately 2 thousand companies, which total about 85% of the revenue of the software and services segment in Brazil, distributed in 24 Brazilian states and in the Federal District, responsible for the generation of more than 210 thousand direct jobs and an annual revenue of the order of R＄ 80 billion in 2020.
Access the ABES Portal or speak to the Relationship Center: +55 (11) 2161-2833.
ABES - Press contacts:
Weber Shandwick Brasil - abes@webershandwick.com
Paula Boracini – +55 (11) 98415-0314
Carol Herling – +55 (11) 99553-7756
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