The Leading Speakers Bureau

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Deservedly, his risk management skills are sought by prominent technology and design led organisations around the world.
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Creative Entrepreneur

Lapo Elkann is the grandson of Gianni Agnelli. Together with his brother and sister he is the majority shareholder of the private parent company controlling Fiat Group. In 2007, he launched his own company, Italia Independent which creates unique objects, clothing and accessories. Prior to that he was in charge of Worldwide Brand Promotion for Fiat Group. In 2001, he was Dr. Henry Kissinger’s Personal Assistant.

“To be independent means to write your own story everyday”

In detail

Having previously worked for Ferrari and Maserati in the Marketing Departments, Lapo moved to Fiat Auto S.p.a. in 2003, where he was in charge of the Fiat Europe Operative Marketing. Whilst in charge of Worldwide Brand Promotion for Fiat Group, he succeeded in winning back the attention of long gone younger clients bringing them to perceive Fiat as a “buddy brand” and “love mark”. He was in charge of the launch of Fiat Punto and has been involved in promoting the relaunch of the Iconic Fiat 500 Car.
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Leading Expert on Economic, Social and Political Issues

Carlo Ungaro is an Italian ambassador and retired Diplomatic Officer who has served in a variety of postings in Africa, Asia and Europe. From 2005 to 2007 he was the political adviser to the Italian contingent of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Herat, Afghanistan and served as head of the Italian Diplomatic Delegation to Somalia. Ungaro has published a book of short stories ‘Il Manuale del Perfetto Diplomatico’ and, recently an article in the International Herald Tribune on Afghanistan.

“A renowned and respected expert on economy and politics”

In detail

During his five-year-stay in the Balkans, Carlo Ungaro opened the Headquarter of the European Community Monitoring Mission in Croatia. In Albania he served as diplomatic advisor to the Italian led multilateral military contingent, and then, with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Croatia and, finally as head of the OSCE Spillover Mission in Skopje. He was also Counselor in Kuala Lumpur, Consul General in Rotterdam, and served as a junior diplomat in Kinshasa, and as Vice Consul in Bedford (England).
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Chairman of the Board of Roma Metropolitane

Chicco Testa is Chairman of the Board of Roma Metropolitane, the company in charge of the construction of the new underground lines in Rome. He is also a Senior Partner at Rothschild Italia, a member of the Board of Directors of Lloyd Adriatico and RAS, Chairman of the Board of Telit Communications PLC and Chairman of the Board of E.V.A., a company developing hydropower generation plants. He is currently a member of the Expert Advisory Committee of the European Carbon Fund and also Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 20th World Energy Congress (Rome 2007).

“One of Rome’s most influential business leaders”

In detail

From 1994 to 1996 Mr Testa was Chairman of the Board of ACEA (Rome’s Electricity and Water Co.) From 1996 to 2002 he was Chairman of the Board of Enel Spa, the most important Electrical Company in Italy. From 2002 to 2004 he was Member of the Board of Directors of Gruppo Riello, Italy’s leading company in innovative integrated heating systems and appliances. From 2002 to 2005 he was Member of the Advisory Board of the Carlyle Europe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of STA Spa and Chairman of the Kyoto Club
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President of the Deutsche Bundesbank 1993-1999

Until August 1999 Dr Hans Tietmeyer was the President of the Deutsche Bundesbank and remains one of the most important figures in European finance.

Dr Hans Tietmeyer is uniquely qualified and decision makers from businesses around the world will benefit from his insight into the history and future prospects of economic and monetary policy in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

Dr Tietmeyer was born in 1931 and was educated at the Universities of Münster, Bonn and Cologne. Following an academic background in which his thinking was influenced by Alfred Muller-Armack and Ludwig Erhard he moved into international economics and banking.
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Former Vice-President of the European Commission, Competition Commissioner and Transport Commissioner

Karel van Miert played a key role in the modernisation of European competition and deregulation policy in the 1990s. While he was European Competition Commissioner, the media dubbed him ‘The most powerful man in Europe’. His responsibilities spanned across shaping policy for transport, credit, investment and consumers, as well as competition policy. Mr. Van Miert was President of Universiteit Nyenrode from 2000 to 2003 and most recently chaired a high level group looking into the transport infrastructure for the enlarged European Union.

“A remarkable interpreter of the European economy’s competitive position.”

In detail
A proponent of the benefits of competition, he is highly respected for his work regulating mergers and acquisitions, and for implementing a Europe wide competition policy. Currently he is member of the Supervisory Boards of Royal Philips Electronics NV, Wolters Kluwer NV, RWE AG, Fraport and DHV and member of the Board of Agfa Gevaert and de Persgroep. He further is member of the Advisory Board of Guidant Europe NV, Eli Lilly Holdings Ltd., Fitch, Rabobank, Boer & Croon and Goldman Sachs International.
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Financial Editor CNN, Journalist and Moderator

Todd Benjamin is the financial editor for CNN’s international networks, based in London since 1993. Todd has interviewed some of the most powerful men in governments around the globe including the former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
He has also hosted many interviews with major business players and CEOs from a wide number of industries incorporating in-depth business and financial market analysis.

“Todd is known for his no-nonsense style and punchy interviews”

In detail
Todd Benjamin holds a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of Puget Ound. He has travelled throughout Europe covering economic and corporate stories including, G8, EU and the Frankfurt Auto show.

Todd joined CNN in 1982 working in Washington and later in New York. Before joining CNN he worked as an investigative and business reporter in local television news in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Founder & CEO of Cobra Beer

Karan started his career at Ernst & Young in 1982, where he spent four years working in audit, tax, training and accounting. In 1989 he founded Cobra Beer, realising his ambition to develop a premium lager to complement Indian cuisine. He then extended into other markets with the launch of General Bilimoria Wines in 1999, and by founding Tandoori Magazine of which he remains Publishing Director. He has also founded curryzone.com and is the Founder and Chairman of Cobrabyte Technologies.

An entrepreneur with the Midas touch

In detail
Additionally, Karan is a member of the Government’s National Employment Panel, and is Chairman of The Panel’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Board. He is also Vice Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Asian Business Association.
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Wireless, Internet and e-Business   Specialist

Bruno Giussani is a specialist on the social and economic impacts of technological innovation.

A writer, serial entrepreneur and analyst, he has co-developed the first Swiss online news site, written an Internet column for The New York Times during four years, headed the online strategy of the World Economic Forum.

He advises private and public organization on technology and new media. Most recently he was a Knight Fellow at the Department of Communication of Stanford University and is an Affiliated Fellow at the Institute for International Studies.

A futurologist with his feet firmly on the ground.

In detail

A regular lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, he is also Vice-Chairman of the Board of Tinext, a software company which he co-founded, and a Board member of Namics, an Internet consultancy in Switzerland and Germany.

He was a member of the advisory committee of Transitions Online, a Prague-based independent news organisation covering, the former Soviet regions, and of NetAid, a New York group fighting poverty.
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Former World No 1 Tennis Superstar

Boris Becker entranced tennis fans when in 1985, aged just seventeen, he became the youngest ever player to lift the famous shield at the All England Club. The German became a tennis legend, taking the Wimbledon title twice more. His career haul of 49 titles included two Australian Open crowns and one US Open success. 

Boris now plays on the Senior ATP Tour and Billie Jean King’s World Team Tennis tour. He remains a hugely popular figure at Wimbledon and commentates there for the BBC each year.

“A sporting legend”

In detail

Boris exploded onto the tennis scene in 1985, when he became the youngest male ever to win the Wimbledon singles championship. His victory was considered a fluke by some because none of the top seeds reached the final that year; he won a four-set over unheralded Kevin Curren to take the title. However, Boris proved it was no fluke by winning the championship again in 1986, this time beating Ivan Lendl. He reached the finals four years in a row, from 1988 through 1991, winning the final for a third time in 1989. He also won the U. S. Open in 1989 and the Australian Open in 1991 and 1996. He finished his career with 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles.
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