The Anton de Kom University of Suriname marked a significant academic milestone on February 25, 2026, with Professor Arno Geurtsen RC delivering his inaugural address upon assuming the prestigious Chair in Governance & Control. The ceremony at the university’s Interfaculty for Graduate Studies and Research centered on redefining the evolving role of business controllers in modern organizational structures.
Professor Geurtsen identified a critical gap in contemporary business practice: widespread ambiguity regarding the precise expectations, responsibilities, and competencies required of business controllers. “Every organization interprets the role differently,” Geurtsen observed, “creating substantial challenges in establishing standardized educational objectives for future professionals.”
The academic framework presented incorporated three foundational pillars: organizational governance theory, digital transformation impacts, and controller role conceptualization. A novel addition to existing scholarship was the concept of ‘knowledge of inertia’—referring to organizational resistance and stagnation that controllers must navigate to implement successful transformations.
Geurtsen’s theoretical approach integrated Simons’ ‘levers of control’ model, advocating for reflective control systems that incorporate social context and organizational culture alongside traditional processes. This comprehensive perspective aims to transform governance from theoretical aspiration to practical implementation, ensuring sustainable organizational improvements.
The address traced the historical evolution of organizational governance, noting the traditional dominance of financial information while acknowledging critiques of this narrow focus. Geurtsen discussed emerging performance measurement frameworks, including Kaplan & Norton’s Balanced Scorecard, and examined contemporary insights regarding behavioral and cultural controls as supplementary management tools.
Looking toward the future, Professor Geurtsen envisioned the business controller as a hybrid professional—combining analytical expertise with sophisticated social skills to navigate complex human dynamics within organizations. This duality, he argued, forms the essential foundation for functioning as both legitimate and effective business partners.
The establishment of this academic chair underscores Suriname’s commitment to advancing professional education and research in governance and control, aiming to develop controllers capable of guiding organizations through increasingly complex and digitalized business environments.