Zurich Insurance to Sponsor American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference 2012
(3BL Media) New York, NY - May 15, 2012 - The American Swiss Foundation today announced that Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) will host the 23rd Annual Young Leaders Conference taking place Nov. 10-17 in Zurich, Switzerland. The announcement came at the American Swiss Foundation’s annual gala dinner in New York on May 9, 2012. Hosting the Young Leaders Conference demonstrates Zurich’s strong commitment to the friendship and close relations between Switzerland and the U.S.
“For a Swiss-based company with major business operations in the U.S., it is of great importance that Swiss and Americans develop a deeper awareness of the other’s perspective,” said Dennis Kerrigan, chief legal officer North America for Zurich. “Helping foster mutual understanding among the next generation of leaders in Switzerland and the U.S. is why we support the person-to-person exchange among opinion leaders that is created by the Young Leaders Conference.”
Since 1990, the Young Leaders Conference has been a source of strength in the Swiss-American relationship, bringing together about 50 promising Swiss and American young leaders each year to learn about this special relationship and from each other. Of the 900 alumni who have participated in the program, many have risen to positions of influence in both Switzerland and the U.S. This formidable network of leaders continues to build bridges of understanding between the two “sister republics.”
Zurich counts among its senior management 16 alumni of the Young Leaders Conference, including Angel Serna, head of Corporate Communications, Arno Wicki, head of Government and Industry Affairs − Europe, and Christa Markwalder, head of Government and Industry Affairs – Switzerland.
Markwalder said, “The Young Leaders Conference was such an inspiring experience for me that I wanted to make my contribution to this excellent platform, which connects young talents from both countries. I am now helping organize activities for this year's conference and have scheduled a visit to the Swiss parliament building and a panel discussion among the major political parties in Switzerland. I am very pleased and proud that Zurich will host the Young Leaders Conference 2012.”
“A constant in my life is the connection to the U.S., be it through family, friends, study or work," said Wicki. "Ever since I participated in the unforgettable Young Leaders Conference in 2000, the American Swiss Foundation has helped me strengthen these bonds.”
The Chairman of the American Swiss Foundation, Steven Hoch, added, “The generosity of our sponsors in supporting the Conference contributes immeasurably to its success year after year. We are most grateful to Zurich for its financial and programming support, without which the 23rd Annual Young Leaders Conference would not be possible.”
To learn more about Zurich’s 100 year anniversary of insuring America, visit www.zurichna.com/100.
About the American Swiss Foundation
The American Swiss Foundation is a private non-profit organization founded in 1945 to preserve and strengthen the historic friendship between the two countries through person-to-person exchange. A private, non-profit organization, the Foundation is chaired by Steven G. Hoch, Co-founder and Partner of Highmount Capital LLC, and directed by Patricia Schramm, President. Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, who chaired the Foundation for almost 20 years, serves as Chairman Emeritus. For more information about the American Swiss Foundation, go to http://americanswiss.org.
About Zurich
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurance provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as well as other markets. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world, go to http://www.zurichna.com/zna/aboutzurich/zna-home.htm. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors. In addition, Zurich also offers life insurance products. 2012 marks Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees. Further information about Zurich's 100 year anniversary of insuring America is available at http://www.zurichna.com/100.
