CCI staff share recent surveys, reports and analysis on risk, compliance, governance, infosec and leadership issues. Share details of your survey with us: editor@corporatecomplianceinsights.com.
Gartner: Data & analytics top priority for audit leaders as confidence gap widens
More than three-quarters (76%) of chief audit executives (CAEs) rank advancing data and analytics capabilities as their top priority for 2025, yet only 35% feel confident in their ability to achieve this goal, according to research from global research and advisory firm Gartner.
The survey of 127 global chief audit executives reveals a significant confidence gap in addressing technology challenges, with particularly low confidence in building IT audit capabilities (27%) and providing assurance over generative AI (29%). The findings highlight growing pressure on audit departments to enhance their technical capabilities while managing limited resources.
Root-cause analysis emerged as the second highest priority, with 59% of audit executives focusing on providing more insightful and actionable findings to businesses. However, only 21% of chief audit executives currently include root cause trends in their audit committee presentations, despite increasing demand for this information.
Other key findings:
- 90% of audit departments now use data analytics in engagement fieldwork, but only 44% apply analytics to advisory work.
- 57% of audit executives prioritize building more effective training approaches, but only 38% feel confident in addressing this challenge.
- 47% of audit leaders struggle to update their departments’ competency models to include new expectations for skills and knowledge.
‘Forever chemicals’ found in 82% of manufacturing supply chains, study finds
So-called forever chemicals are present in more than four-fifths of manufacturing supply chains, with just 10 substances accounting for 70% of all identified PFAS chemicals, according to new research from Assent, a supply chain sustainability management solution provider.
The analysis of 3 million declarations from global manufacturers reveals that while thousands of potential PFAS exist, fewer than 500 are confirmed to be in commercial use. The study also found a 49% increase in PFAS declarations over the past year, with 25% of parts containing two or more PFAS chemicals.
Assent’s findings come as manufacturers face mounting pressure from new regulations, with more than 100 PFAS-related rules enacted or proposed globally. Particularly concerning is that 75% of reported PFAS are substances that 3M will discontinue manufacturing by the end of 2025, creating significant risk of parts obsolescence.
“PFAS chemicals have been used so broadly for decades that it’s hard to imagine any manufacturer that won’t be critically impacted by federal and state regulations in 2025,” said Cally Edgren, vice president of regulatory and sustainability at Assent. “Manufacturers that haven’t yet started to engage their supply chain to track and manage PFAS data are behind and need to get started now to mitigate operational, regulatory and financial risks.”
Other key findings:
- Only about 490 different PFAS substances have been identified through supplier engagement.
- The top 20 most common PFAS account for 86% of identified substances.
- Companies face urgent deadlines, including U.S. requirements mandating PFAS usage disclosure by January 2026.
Political shifts in US, UK, EU set to reshape global anti-corruption enforcement landscape in 2025
Political changes stemming from 2024 elections are dramatically altering anti-corruption enforcement priorities worldwide, with major jurisdictions like the US, UK and EU introducing significant reforms, according to a new analysis by global law firm Hogan Lovells.
The UK’s new failure to prevent fraud offense, taking effect in September, is expected to create unprecedented compliance challenges for large organizations while fostering a more aggressive enforcement environment. Meanwhile, in the US, the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) has expanded enforcement scope by criminalizing the solicitation or receipt of bribes by foreign officials.
2025 could emerge as “The year of the whistleblower,” driven by evolving EU regulations, increased US focus on disclosures and mounting pressure for whistleblowing reforms in the UK, the firm says. Companies face growing pressure to strengthen their internal reporting mechanisms to reduce external whistleblowing risks.
“Political shifts could redefine the global enforcement landscape in ways we’ve not seen before,” said Liam Naidoo, deputy head of investigations, white collar and fraud at Hogan Lovells. “In the UK, the new failure to prevent fraud offense creates new compliance challenges for large organizations along with the prospect of a more active enforcement environment.”
Other key findings:
- AI is becoming central to compliance strategies, with updated DOJ guidance emphasizing AI’s role in compliance programs.
- The EU is making progress on a harmonized anti-corruption directive while addressing ongoing challenges with whistleblower protections.
- Anti-corruption initiatives continue to expand across APAC and LATAM markets, including Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.
- Corporate criminal enforcement shows increasing sensitivity to political dynamics, particularly in the US, where DOJ practices may shift with political changes.
