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1. Comex: definition
The Comex is the company executive committee, which is intended to assist the Director General in his decision-making. It meets at a defined frequency to deal with projects of high strategic value. It is made up of senior managers, mainly including the financial director, the marketing director and the sales director.
In parallel with board of directors, the executive committee allows the company's problems to be discussed. A true operational county, it sets up a global strategic vision of the company, with achievable objectives to be transmitted to the teams.
☝️ To note: In practice, the Comex is almost identical to the Codir, except that its composition of the executive committee is in principle more selective. Depending on its size, the company can choose one or the other form, or both. This makes it possible to have a reduced Comex and a executive committee more open with managers and managers at different levels.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse Comex with steering committee, more focused on operational projects than on governance. He can manage the development of a product or software, the project of an ISO standard or even a reflection concerning organization at work.
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2. The role of Comex in corporate governance
The executive committee plays alongside the company manager a decisive role in the corporate governance. It is based on performance indicators to give direction to the activity and thus:
- Take stock of the results recorded over the quarter, the semester or the past year;
- Identify the problems encountered;
- Implement a business development strategy for the company;
- Think about growth goals.
The Comex therefore makes it possible to make a comprehensive update on company news while creating cohesion between departments. The objective is therefore to nourish a common vision of the company. Thus, the subjects follow one another and are not necessarily the same in a Comex meeting.
Among the issues on the agenda, therefore, the following can be discussed:
- La strategic thinking to conquer a market or make new investments;
- La cybersecurity And the fight against cybercrime (cyber attack, data protection...);
- Questions relating toevolution of the brand or logo ;
- THEimproving the quality of working conditions to promote the well-being of employees.
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3. The composition of the executive committee
Depending on the size and organization chart of the company, the composition of the Comex may vary. But it generally includes senior managers who are widely involved in the company and appointed as members of Comex by the board of directors. It can thus include all the people who have a competence in management operations within the structure :
- The CEO, CEO of the company;
- The director general;
- The deputy director;
- The administrative and financial director;
- The HR director;
- The R&D director;
- The commercial director;
- The marketing director;
- The director of communication;
- The customer service manager.
☝️ To note: The executive committee is managed and managed by the company director. He has an overall vision of the organization at the strategic level and has the greatest decision-making power.
☝️ To note: The manager can also choose to create a Shadow COMEX, composed of promising resources for society. This allows him to compare points of view with young employees who do not have access to Comex. This committee acts in parallel, in a consultative manner. It therefore has no decision-making power, but its constitution is of definite interest from a strategic point of view. Its members are in fact immersed in the practical problems of digitalization and emerging markets. These young talents can thus design innovative proposals for the company. Integrating them into the Shadow Comex is a lever for motivation and involvement in teams!
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4. How to organize a Comex in your company?
Define the Comex agenda
Because it is an essential step in decision-making in your company, the implementation of Comex must be carefully prepared. Decision-making will only be more effective and relevant for the future. The prior definition of an agenda makes it possible to structure the meeting and to gain in efficiency. The list of topics covered is thus sent to each participant in advance in order to be able to think about them with hindsight and to work on possible interventions. No more wasting time! The exchanges are fruitful and the Comex can thus meet specific objectives in order to identify immediately operational solutions.
Respect the frequency of meetings
Like other bodies in the company (steering committee, management committee, etc.), Comex members initially define the frequency of their meetings: quarterly, semi-annual or annual. But the date is flexible according to needs and emergencies. The committee usually meets within the company, but may also choose a more inspiring location to stimulate everyone's creativity.
Give the floor to all members of the executive committee
Everyone must be able to express themselves during the Comex in order to obtain the opinion of all members, whose sometimes divergent points of view are interesting to hear. The reality of the R&D director is not the same as that of the financial director. The strength of the executive committee lies precisely in being able to find an anchor at the crossroads of the various interests in society. And for optimal participation, think digital!
Disseminate information within the company
Comex decisions are recorded in writing, ideally in a collaborative tool to allow secure and parameterized access. This summary is a real working tool that allows you to keep in mind the stages of building the chosen solution: speeches and comments from the participants, decision-making. It is a precise and reliable source of information, which also records the actions to be implemented by the next council. It is therefore both a memory tool, a tool for measuring the performance of Comex and especially for internal communication within the company. This makes it possible to check the progress made at each Comex meeting in relation to the previous objectives listed. The members of the executive committee thus disseminate information to their teams in order to implement the company's strategic axes at their level. The marketing, financial, commercial, R&D, and customer departments can then move forward on their projects taking into account the objectives identified at the executive level.
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