Global leaders converge on INSEAD’S Europe campus in Fontainebleau to address growth and opportunity in business and society
INSEAD, the leading international business school, hosted its first annual Leadership Summit on the school’s Fontainebleau campus on 22 June 2007. The exclusive one-day Summit brought together world leaders from business, government, media and academia to share insights on issues shaping the constantly evolving global marketplace. The theme of the Summit, “Is Europe still relevant?” explored some of the key challenges and opportunities facing Europe now and into the future. “INSEAD is honoured to host such a prestigious gathering of some of the world’s most renowned leaders to discuss issues that will not only affect Europe, but global business and society,” said J. Frank Brown, Dean of INSEAD. “The INSEAD Leadership Summit occurred during a very historic time both for Europe and our school. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the European Union, as well as the founding of INSEAD.”
Brown added, “As a school, INSEAD has grown from its European roots to become one of the world’s largest and leading graduate business schools with dual campuses in Europe and Asia, and centres in Abu Dhabi and Israel. The Summit truly underscores INSEAD’s unwavering commitment to leadership, both within our own walls and beyond.”
The Summit featured three plenary sessions and two parallel panels led by a group of more than 25 distinguished speakers and INSEAD faculty members. Hosted by INSEAD Dean J. Frank Brown, the Summit offered thought-provoking discussions facilitated by leaders such as Gregory Case, President and CEO of Aon Corporation, Dr. Gerd Leipold, International Executive Director, Greenpeace International, Ernest-Antoine Seillière, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, WENDEL Investissement and President of BUSINESSEUROPE, Jean-François Théodore, Deputy CEO, NYSE Euronext and Michael Williams, Global Energy Editor, The Wall Street Journal. Sessions addressed the most pressing issues facing Europe, ranging from macroeconomic and financial challenges to clean energy and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
In addition to the main sessions, Dean J. Frank Brown also presented the INSEAD Award for Transcultural Leadership to Jean-François Théodore of NYSE Euronext. INSEAD established the award to recognise those who combine traditional business leadership with a unique understanding of other cultures to forge strategic growth for their organisations. During a gala dinner on April 24 in New York City, INSEAD honoured both Jean-François Théodore and John Thain, Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Officer, respectively, of NYSE Euronext for their twin-pillared leadership approach in the creation of the first truly global financial marketplace.
