Jean-René Fourtou, chairman and chief executive of Vivendi Universal, will be the first non-U.S. recipient of USCIB’s top award for business leadership.
USCIB announced on July 13 that its board of directors had selected Mr. Fourtou, the longtime Aventis chief who stepped in two years ago to help put Vivendi Universal back on its feet, as the 2004 recipient of USCIB’s International Leadership Award. Mr. Fourtou will be honored at an October 12 gala dinner at the United Nations in New York.
“Jean-René Fourtou has exhibited extraordinary management and leadership skills, both at Aventis and at Vivendi Universal,” said USCIB President Thomas Niles. “His achievements in that regard stand on their own. But even more, he has been an effective, indeed relentless, champion of open markets and free trade, and for that the U.S. business community is very grateful.”
A recognized leader on trade and globalization matters, Mr. Fourtou has long been closely involved with ICC. As ICC’s chairman during the past two years, he has led efforts to strengthen the organization’s roles as voice of international business, creator of voluntary rules for the conduct of global commerce and provider of services to the business community. Last month, Mr. Fourtou also presided over a highly successful ICC World Congress in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In addition to his responsibilities with Vivendi Universal and ICC, Mr. Fourtou is honorary chairman and vice chairman of the board of Aventis. He previously served as chairman and chief executive of Rhône-Poulenc SA, and he currently serves on the boards of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Axa. Mr. Fourtou is a French citizen and attended France’s Ecole Polytechnique.
Each year since 1980, USCIB has honored a senior business executive for significant policy leadership in improving the global competitive framework for American business. Recent recipients of the International Leadership Award include Charles O. Holliday, Jr. of DuPont and George David of United Technologies.
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