During Claude Smadja's term as managing director of the World Economic Forum his portfolio of exceptional abilities included direct responsibility for the Annual Meeting in Davos, the Forum's activities in Asia and especially direct responsibility for the yearly East Asia Economic Summit. He was also Chairman at the yearly financial services governors meeting, comprising most of the top executives of the major players in the sector.

With a background as a political and economic analyst Claude Smadja has a wealth of experience from his 15 years in Media and his career with the World Economic Forum. He has an in-depth knowledge of the world's economic, business and political scene and its key players. He also has a unique ability to identify and analyse emerging trends and their implications and to integrate complex issues in a global context. His activities have led him to acquire a special expertise and extensive knowledge on the East Asia region, and to develop a solid network of relationships.

Prior to his position as Managing Director of the World Economics Forum, Claude Smadja was Director for the news and current affairs Department of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Appointed as a Director of the WEF in 1987 he created and headed World Link, the magazine of the WEF. He subsequently created the Forum's first Regional Economic Summit - The East Asia Economic Summit - now a major event in the region gathering about 1000 top executives, senior government officials and leading political players, academic experts and Media leaders.

Claude has that rare ability to combine an integrated conceptual approach with a very hands-on attitude and attention to modalities of implementation of projects. He has a thorough understanding of how the world economy and the 'global scene' function today - an understanding created through a long standing process of extensive travelling and on-going interaction with top business, political and intellectual leaders around the world.

An excellent communicator Claude Smadja is a frequent keynote speaker and has demonstrated his ability to deal - and be at ease - with diverse cultural environments around the world.