The Leading Speakers blog

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Global Marketing Expert

René Jäggi is the former CEO of Adidas International and Chairman of H.T.M. (Head– Tyrolia-Mares-Penn) the international sports group. He is also the former Chairman of the Board of Head N.V and he was CEO of the LOC Venue office during the football world cup in 2006 in Germany. He is currently on the board of several international companies and Chairman of Flora Eco Power AG in Munich, a public bio energy company. In May 2007 he was appointed as a new member of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Based Artificial Life, Inc. a provider of award-winning mobile 3G technology and applications.

René Jäggi is a recognised corporate marketing expert

In Detail

In addition to his corporate work Mr Jäggi is also the former President of the Executive Board of the Kaiserslautern Football Club and former President of Football Club Basel.
He was also Chairman of the advisory board of Romika GmbH, the sports shoe manufacturer as well as holding prior management positions in marketing and sales at battery giant Duracel and Reynolds the tobacco giant.
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Entrepreneur, Model and Media Personality

Caprice became a household name around the world through her modeling and media appearances. Arriving in England from Southern California she became one of the most photographed women in the world appearing on over 300 magazine covers. Following her success as a model she added a variety of television appearances to her media portfolio. Voted GQ Magazine’s Woman of the Year and Maxim’s International Woman of the Year 3 years running she appeared in a documentary for Channel 4 “ Being Caprice “ and featured in many other prime time shows.

Caprice is an Ambassador for the Princes Trust

In detail

Following her success as a Model and Media Personality Caprice moved into roles on the West End stage and received rave reviews, later she produced her own version of a popular musical in which she also starred. Recently she has become a business entrepreneur developing and financing her own range of lingerie and swimwear which achieved instant success in Debenhams stores, Next and Littlewoods plus many countries around the world. Her future objective is to achieve continuing global success with the By Caprice brand and as she develops further product ranges her determination is to be “ hands on“ in every respect of the business.
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Former CEO of Starbucks

Orin C. Smith was President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation from 2000 to 2005. He joined Starbucks as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1990, became President and Chief Operating Officer in 1994, and became a director of Starbucks in 1996. Mr. Smith has been a Director of The Walt Disney Company since 2006 and he has been a Director of Nike Inc. since September 20, 2004 and serves as a Member of its Audit Committee.

“Embracing diversity is not only the right thing to do socially or ethically, it’s good for business.”

In detail

Prior to joining Starbucks, Mr. Smith spent a total of 14 years with Deloitte & Touche. He serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Washington School of Business, the University of Washington Medicine Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of Conservation International. He was also a Director of Oakley Sunglasses, Watches, Shoes, and Apparel from August 1995 until July 10, 2003.
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First Woman to Summit Everest from North & South Sides

Cathy O’Dowd is a winning explorer and raconteur.

Not one to submit to adversity, she reached Everest’s peak from the south, despite facing the worst storm in the mountain’s history.

She took on the challenge of the treacherous north side two years later, but her attempt ended when she stopped to try and save a dying climber.

A year later she returned and succeeded in becoming the first woman to climb Everest from both the north and south sides.

The first woman to conquer both the north and south sides of Everest

In detail

A former university lecturer with a Masters degree in Media Studies, she grew up in South Africa.

Now based in Europe, she remains an active adventurer, from the heights of the Himalaya to the wilderness of the Arctic. In 2003 she attempted a new route up the notorious east face of Everest.
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Olympic Sprinter and Gold Medallist

Michael Johnson is quite simply one of the greatest athletes on the planet, and one of the best ever. His place in history was sealed at the Atlanta Olympics, during which he won an unprecedented 200 meters and 400 meters sprint double. Winning the double in Atlanta was impressive enough, but it was the nature of the victories, particularly in the 200m, which made Johnson’s name forever.

“Michael Johnson was the most eminent figure in athletics in the
1990’s” Wikepedia

In detail

From a very young age, Michael always loved running and sport. Always the fastest amongst his friends, he never dreamed he would be a world record holder and Olympic gold medallist. No-one else before or since has come near his time of 19.32 seconds in the 200 meters.
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Musician and Co-organiser of Band Aid and Live Aid and Live 8

November 25, 1984 was an historic day for Midge Ure and all of pop music, as 36 artists by the collective name Band Aid gathered at SARM Studios in West London under Midge’s production. They recorded Do They Know It’s Christmas?, a song he had just written with Bob Geldof as the industry’s heartfelt and eloquent contribution to Ethiopian famine relief. The unstoppable emotion engendered by the project led to Live Aid, the summer 1985 global concert that, all exaggeration aside, spoke for a generation.

“An artist who has received Ivor Novello, Grammy, BASCAP awards along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records, needs very little introduction”

In detail

Midge organised the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof, with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. In 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity.
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Former Polish Deputy Prime and Finance Minister & President of the National Bank (until 2006)

Leszek Balcerowicz is a pioneer of radical reforms who has been at the centre of Poland’s economic and political life since 1989. Having been three times in government in charge of economic reforms, he is acclaimed as the architect of his country’s economic growth and as a leader of free market economy. He is the Governor of the National Polish Bank and has also held positions including Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister and President of the National Bank. He is a member of the group of trustees of the Institute of International Finance (USA) and also a Professor of Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics.

He is the only Central/Eastern European member of the prestigious “Group of Thirty

In detail

Mr. Balcerowicz graduated with distinction from the Foreign Trade Faculty at the Central School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw and gained an MBA at St. John’s University in New York followed by his Ph.D. in Economics in 1975 from the Warsaw School of Economics. He served as Finance Minister from 1989 until 1991, and was Finance Minister again between 1997 and 2000
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Former Vice Chancellor & Former Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Germany

Hans-Dietrich Genscher is one of Europe’s foremost statesmen. He realised his vision of economic and political integration with the German reunification and was one of the architects of modern Europe.
Presently, he presides over several institutions, a role he combines with writing for numerous leading publications as well as lecturing. He was Deputy Chancellor of Germany for 18 years and an acting Member of Parliament until 1998.

World class assessor of the economic and political landscapes.
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Former Assistant Secretary of State

As Assistant Secretary of State and Chief Spokesman for the State Department, James Rubin was employed in the Clinton Administration for over seven years and served as a top adviser and confidant to former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.

During his position as Chief Spokesman, James Rubin briefed the nation and world - through daily, on-camera sessions with American and foreign journalists.

This authority on foreign affairs will give your audience insight into national security policies and US foreign policy initiatives that impact the world. James Rubin provides behind-the-scenes perspectives on his personal experiences during negotiations spanning the globe, from the Middle East and Iraq to Russia and China, in addition to the diplomatic missions which he led to Kosovo.
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Humanitarian, Super-model, Actress and Entrepreneur

Elle MacPherson is one of the most recognizable super models in the world. Perhaps best known for her record of six covers of Sport’s Illustrated’s highly anticipated Annual Swimsuit issue. Time magazine ran a cover story on her career entitled The Big Elle in 1986. In addition to making her mark in the world of business, Elle is also a successful actress having starred in Sirens, Batman & Robin and The Edge and also guest starred in sitcom Friends. She enjoyed worldwide success with her own sell out calendars in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Your Personal Best The Body workout video that was voted the year’s best by Billboard magazine in 1995.

Throughout her 25 year career, Elle has been a prominent figure in fashion, film, television and business.

In detail
Transcending the traditional career path of the super model, in 1989 Elle established her own company, Elle Macpherson Intimates in Australia. As Chairperson, she has piloted the company and today Elle Macpherson Intimates is considered one of the most highly recognizable fashion lingerie brands in all markets. More recently Elle was appointed on the Board of Directors of Hot Tuna Surf overseeing design, management and strategy.
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