Programme

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ernst & Young, James is committed to setting a clear "tone from the top" around the key issues of quality, integrity, and professionalism. James began his career with Ernst & Young in 1977 and has held a series of leadership positions. Based in New York and London, James also serves as senior advisory partner for many of Ernst & Young’s largest global clients. James is active with many stakeholders, reflecting Ernst & Young's commitment to enhance trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. He has encouraged dialogue with stakeholders regarding changes facing the global capital markets, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, IFRS, and the movement toward convergence of global accounting standards and global governance. Throughout his career, James has supported civic, cultural, and business organizations. James takes an active part in Foreign Investment Advisory Council under the Government of the Russian Federation. James holds a Master's and a BA in Accounting from Rice University in Texas, where he is a member of the Board of Trustees.

Born March 17, 1959 in Moscow. Higher education. Graduated in 1981 from Lomonosov Moscow State University as a Cybernetics Economist. From 1981 to 1986, he worked as an intern researcher and junior research fellow of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute under the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1986 to 1990, he was a junior research fellow, a research fellow and a senior research fellow at the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of Scientific and Technical Progress under the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1990 to 2006, he worked as a senior research fellow and head of the laboratory of the Institute for Economic Forecasting under the Russian Academy of Sciences. From 2006 to 2008, he was Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. In 2008, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. From 2008 to 2012, he was Director of the Department of Economics and Finances under the Government of the Russian Federation. From 2012 to 2013, he was Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since June 24, 2013, he has been an Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. He holds the rank of an Active State Counsellor of the Russian Federation, first class. He is a doctor of economic sciences. In 2007, he was awarded the honorary title ‘Honoured Economist of the Russian Federation’. In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Honour. He is married with one son.

Born on June 26, 1973 in Moscow. In 1998 graduated from the Academy of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation with a specialization in Jurisprudence. In 1991—1993 — served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, border-security forces. In 1993—1999 — auditor of the Academy of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2001—2002 — Counselor of the General Direction of the International Foundation for Economic and Social Reforms “The Reform”. In 2002—2008 – Chief Specialist of the Department of External Relationships of the Basic Element Company LLC, Counselor of the Deputy Director General Director of the Basic Element Company LLC, Counselor of the Administration for Interaction with State and Nongovernmental Organizations. In 2005—2008 — Aide to the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Associate Department Director (combined duties). In 2008—2009 — Counselor of the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since July 2009 — Director of the Department of Investment Policy and Development of the Private/Public Partnership of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since August 3, 2012 — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Married, has two children.

Klaus Kleinfeld is Chairman and CEO of Alcoa, a global leader in the production and management of aluminum. He joined the company in 2007 as president and chief operating officer and seven months later assumed CEO responsibilities. He has served on Alcoa’s board of directors since 2003. Alcoa serves the aerospace, defense, transportation, packaging, and building and construction markets. Before Alcoa, Mr. Kleinfeld had a 20-year career with Siemens AG, where he was CEO from 2005 to 2007. There, he led a dramatic transformation of the company, reshaping its portfolio around three high-growth areas, driving a revenue increase and a near-doubling of market capitalization. Prior to his service on the Managing Board of Siemens AG, Mr. Kleinfeld was CEO of Siemens Corporation, the company’s US arm representing its largest region. Mr. Kleinfeld serves on the Boards of Morgan Stanley and Bayer AG; he is Chair of the US–Russia Business Council; and he is a Trustee of the Brookings Institution. He holds a Ph.D in strategic management from the University of Wuerzburg and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Goettingen.

Born on September 17, 1957 in Villach, Austria. Education: Studied economics at Vienna University of Economics and Business and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Vienna University of Economics and Business, MBA; Harvard Business School, AMP. Michigan State University, Honorary Doctorate of Engineering. Professional History: 1985, Senior Management Consultant, Kienbaum und Partner. 1988, Various management positions in Spain, the US, Germany, the UK and Japan, Hoechst Group. 2000, Chairman, President and CEO, Aventis Pharma Ltd., Japan. 2002, President of Amersham Health and Member of the Board of Directors, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board of Directors, Amersham plc, UK. 2004, President and CEO of GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences (GE Healthcare, UK), Member of the Executive Board, General Electric Company (GE). 2006, President of Global Human Health, Merck & Co., Inc. July 2007, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens AG.

Joseph Jimenez has been Chief Executive Officer of Novartis AG since 1 February 2010. Throughout his time as CEO of Novartis, Mr. Jimenez has placed an emphasis on the expansion of the company into developing markets. This includes Russia, where in December 2010, Novartis announced plans to invest $500 million over the next five years. Mr. Jimenez began his career at Novartis in April 2007 as Head of the Novartis Consumer Health Division. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of H.J. Heinz Company in North America In Russia, Mr. Jimenez represents Novartis at the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC). At present, Novartis is the only pharmaceutical company in the FIAC. Mr. Jimenez received his Bachelor’s Degree from Stanford University in 1982 and was awarded his MBA by the University of California, Berkeley in 1984.