WISekey Selected by the WEF as one of the 100 Global Growth Companies
Picture: from left to right: Carlos Moreira Founder and CEO WISekey, Mr. Dai Xianglong, Mayor of Tianjin, People's Republic of China, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum and Xia Deren, Mayor, Dalian Municipal People's Government, at the closing of the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian. See Web Site WEF
WEF Closing panel
Dalian, People’s Republic of China, 8 September 2007 – Revealing a bold new initiative
of the World Economic Forum Community, comprised of the 1,000 foremost global enterprises,
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, announced the
creation of a new community of fast-growing companies destined to join
the ranks of global multinationals in the next 5 to 10 years. “These are a very
special group of companies that have not really been understood,” said Schwab.
In his opening remarks of the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions, Schwab
had set the goal of 100 Founding Global Growth Company Members. Today, he welcomed
125 Founding Members, clearly signalling that the time is right for this new initiative.
40% of the members are from Asia; 26% hail from Europe; 20% are based in the Americas;
and 14% come from Africa and the Middle East. “This is a truly global community,”
said Schwab.
Schwab’s remarks followed a lively panel on the essential elements – the leadership
DNA – of Global Growth Companies. The panellists, CEOs of five of the world’s most
successful companies, listed traits that included: the constant drive for innovation,
adherence to openness and flexibility, recognition of core competencies, allocation
of resources on a global scale and, particularly, recruitment and retention of talented
individuals.
“The war for talent is something that is going to differentiate companies,” said
Sir Martin Sorrell, Group Chief Executive, WPP, United Kingdom. Qualified individuals
are increasingly mobile, and likely to change jobs many times during their careers.
“The war for talent is over,” said L. Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Heidrick
& Struggles International, USA. “Talent won.”
Maintaining a strategic vision and fire after a business has grown into an established
company is also a significant challenge. “The most important obstacle to success
sits in your own company,” said Ben J. Verwaayen, Chief Executive Officer, BT, United
Kingdom. Too many employees aim to please their employers first, clients second.
Closing the meeting, Dai Xianglong, Mayor of Tianjin, People's Republic of China,
offered his “heartfelt thanks” to the Forum for its selection of his city for the
second Annual Meeting of the New Champions. That meeting will take place in Tianjin,
People’s Republic of China on 25-27 September, 2008.
The rate at which emerging companies are appearing on the world stage is changing
the global economic landscape. Visionary companies can expand more rapidly than
ever before, yielding dynamic new business opportunities, improving infrastructure
and generating employment around the world.
The World Economic Forum has created the Community of Global Growth Companies to
support the next generation of businesses as they navigate the challenges of new
geographies, markets, cultures and regulatory systems on their way to becoming the
industry leaders of tomorrow.
The Community of Global Growth Companies consist of companies that:
• Are expanding outside their traditional boundaries.
• Experience growth rates exceeding 15% year-on-year.
• Have revenues typically between US$100 million and US$ 2 billion.
• Have demonstrated leadership in a particular industry.
Note to Editors
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