Paris, 2 June 2009. Jean Rozwadowski, a businessman with broad international experience, was today named Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Rozwadowski was unanimously appointed by the ICC World Council at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the biennial ICC World Chambers Federation Congress. He will replace Guy Sebban, who retires on 1 July at the end of his four-year term.
“I am delighted and honoured to be joining such an illustrious organization,” Mr Rozwadowski said in accepting his position. “In these times of dramatic and accelerating change, it is more important than ever to strengthen ICC’s mission as the voice of global business in promoting a rules-based multilateral trading system and international cooperation.”
“Protectionism and other challenges to globalization must be firmly addressed,” he added.
Mr Rozwadowski, 62, was born in Holland to a Polish father and a French mother and grew up in South Africa. A French national, he has lived and worked on five continents, holding senior executive positions in Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Singapore, and the United States. He speaks several languages, including English, French, Portuguese, Polish and Spanish.
“My professional experience has allowed me to witness first-hand how international business contributes to making this a better world ─ creating employment, reducing poverty and stimulating education,” he said.
Mr Rozwadowski’s nomination was approved by the ICC World Council following the recommendation of the ICC Executive Board. The nomination was concluded after a robust global search which started with some 100 names.
“Jean Rozwadowski is the right man at the right time for our organization and for the international business community,” ICC Chairman Victor K. Fung said. “He will lead ICC at a time of major global shifts when protectionist pressures are increasing and the global recession has sharply reduced international trade.”
“His experience and contacts around the world should be invaluable for us as we move forward in this challenging environment,” Mr Fung added.
The ICC Chairman praised the outgoing Secretary General for his role in strengthening the organization. “Guy Sebban, by tirelessly working with all the stakeholder groups inside and outside the ICC organization, made us stronger and more responsive to the needs of international business,” he said.
The Selection Committee said Mr Rozwadowski had easily fulfilled the criteria it sought in a new Secretary General, namely strong international business experience coupled with a track record in managing change, delivering quality customer service in member-driven organizations, and developing innovative products and solutions to enhance revenue.
It said Mr Rozwadowski had the personal and business stature necessary to work closely with leaders in business, government, and multilateral organizations.
Mr Rozwadowski was President of the Latin American and Caribbean Division of MasterCard between 1999 and 2004. Previously he was the company’s Executive Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, based in Belgium.
Before joining MasterCard Mr Rozwadowski held numerous executive positions during a 20-year career with American Express, heading up the Southeast Asia and Middle East divisions, based in Singapore and Bahrain, respectively, and leading American Express operations in Brazil for six years. The new Secretary General also served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Mr Rozwadowski graduated with a MBA degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris.
Mr Rozwadowski’s wife is Brazilian and they have two children.
