Same old is new again.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: Editor's page

In a kind of "everything-old-is-new-again" moment, I was leafing through the inaugural issues of Financial Executive, which began publishing in February 1934. Guess what? The controllers, members of the Controllers Institute of America--FEI's ancestral name--were interested in and reading about some of the same issues 21st century fnance executives are reading!

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To wit, some of the headlines of 1934: "International Double Taxation: How Alleviate It?" "Controllers Protest Against Numerous Reports for Government;" "Complex Regulations Costly to Corporations;" "Administration Monetary Policy and Its Effects;" " How Controllers Must Apply New Treasury Decision Concerning Depreciation;" and "Course of Monetary Inflation in Europe Described: What of United States?"

Happy 75th Anniversary Financial Executive! While it's unfortunately hard times for many newspapers and print publications, FEI's flagship magazine goes on--even with its 21st century addition of a digital format. We are proud to carry on the tradition and pleased to present the variety of subjects of interest for our members/readers. Over the next several issues, we'll be highlighting more about the magazine's significant milestone.

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Back to the present. In the May 2009 issue, one subject that certainly seems will be around for a while is our cover story on corporate governance. Freelance writer Paul Sweeney indicates that this could be the "time of the shareholder," as shareholder activists are aiming to play a greater role in corporate decision-making--wanting a say in a variety of issues surrounding executive compensation practices, among other issues. He writes that "with Democrats controlling Congress and the White House, expectation is growing that an overhaul of the financial regulatory system is in the offing." And the SEC--"its...