Top executives to discuss best-practice innovation strategies at INSEAD's 5th Annual Global Business Leaders conference

Abu Dhabi, 17 October 2015 – INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools has announced the fifth edition of its Global Business Leaders Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi’s Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel on October 20, 2015.

Presented under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, and with the support of Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the conference will examine the leadership attributes and best practices necessary for organisations to implement, nurture and exploit innovation in the Middle East’s unique economic environment.

The programme will include a C-suite roundtable presentation during which experts including: Said Darwazah (INSEAD MBA'84D), Chairman and CEO of Hikma Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Arjen Radder, Chief Executive Officer of Philips Middle East & Turkey; and Tarek Sultan, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Agility will consider innovation, strategic renewal and competitive advantage in mature industries.

Andreas Jacobs (MBA’90D), Chairman of INSEAD, Chairman of Barry Callebaut AG, and a Member of the Board of Jacobs Holding AG, who will join the discussion, said “INSEAD, through this year’s Global Business Leaders Conference, continues to reinforce its strong commitment to the government’s visionary initiative to encourage innovation. As the UAE marks 2015 as the Year of Innovation, it is critical for industry leaders to start working more closely towards ensuring that innovation can be a key differentiator in making the UAE a global market-leading economy. As a truly international business school we are keen to bring together communities and incubate ideas in this space.”

Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD, Professor of Economics, and The Rausing Chaired Professor of Economic and Business Transformation, highlighted the importance of the GBLC: “Through annual editions of the Global Business Leaders conference INSEAD has been bringing together local business leaders and academia to develop strategies that are universally applicable and can advance a prosperous and sustainable future in the GCC,”

Peter Zemsky, INSEAD Deputy Dean, Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Professor of Strategy and The Eli Lilly Chaired Professor of Strategy and Innovation will preside over the day’s proceedings along with Henrik Bresman, INSEAD Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour, a Director of the school’s Management Acceleration Programme and Academic Director of the INSEAD Global Leadership Centre, and Miguel Lobo, INSEAD Associate Professor of Decision Sciences and Director of the Abu Dhabi Campus. Claude Janssen, Founder and Honorary Chairman of INSEAD, and his wife, Mrs. Tuulikki Janssen will also be in attendance.

The illustrious lineup of presenters includes a keynote speaker from ADEC, Dr. Mohamed Yousif Baniyas, the Executive Director Higher Education. Liri Andersson, founder of ‘this fluid world’, will discuss the impact of digital technology on business and organisations.

Innovation specific to the media sector will be deliberated in a panel discussion by Mustafa Alrawi, Business Editor, The National; Fida Chaaban, Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Middle East; and Rasha Rteil, Head of Innovation, UM MENA.