ProfilesProfessor Norbert WalterChief Economist, Deutsche Bank Groupand CEO, Deutsche Bank ResearchNorbert Walter is Chief Economist of Deutcshe Bank Group. He was previouslyDirector at the renowned Kiel Institute for World Economics and was a John J McCloyDistinguished Research Fellow at the American Institute for contemporary Studies at the Johns HopkinsUniversity in Washington.As Chief Economist of Deutsche Bank Group, Norbert Walter is responsible for a globally integrated approachin economic research. He is also member of the Deutsche Bank think tank, which covers a wide spectrum ofissues ranging from economic forecasting to country rating and sector analysis.Norbert Walter is a member of the Committee of Wise Men on the Regulation of European SecuritiesMarkets (Lamfalussy group). He was also a close adviser to Gerhard Schroder’s government.Norbert Walter, as Chief Economist at the Deutsche Bank enjoys debate, and he will hold forth on anythingfrom the future of East German housing estates, the prospects offered by the internet, the euro or the role ofthe IMF. When it is a question of explaining economic issues, editors of television news, programmes, andnewspaper and magazine editors, look to Norbert Walter for comment and explanation. To this extent, he is<strong>The</strong> Nation’s Economist.INDUSTRYROBERT WEBB QCGeneral CounselBritish AirwaysRobert Webb QC is General Counsel of British Airways. He also carries responsibilityfor environmental issues, safety, security, risk management, government affairs and BritishAirways health services.He was called to the Bar in 1971 and became Queen’s Counsel in 1988. He practised as a QC for 10 yearsas Head of Chambers at 5 Bell Yard, London from whence he joined British Airways in 1998.He is a Non Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange, of the BBC and of Hakluyt Ltd. He is aBencher of the Inner Temple and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He sat as a Recorder of theCrown Court from 1993 to 1998 and is a past Chairman of the International Relations Committee of theBar Council. He also sits on the Board of ‘London First’. He was a Director of Air Mauritius for five years(1999-2005).Married with two sons he lives in London and Aberdeenshire. He is a Trustee of the Migratory Salmon Fund,an Honorary Fellow of UNICEF, and a golfer.Philip WolfCEOPhoCusWright IncMr Wolf, a respected travel industry guru, founded PhoCusWright Inc in 1994 andserves as president and CEO. His expertise in travel distribution strategy, technology andinnovation has made him a sought-after speaker around the world. After two decades of analyzing, scrutinizingand opining on strategic change and market trends, he is now a recognized industry authority. Philip serves onseveral company boards and is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Graduate Center for Hospitality,<strong>Tourism</strong> and Sports Management. He is quoted frequently in consumer and trade media including CNN,Business Week, USA Today, <strong>The</strong> Wall Street Journal and <strong>The</strong> New York Times and was named to <strong>Travel</strong>Weekly’s ‘Club 33: <strong>The</strong> Most Influential People in the <strong>Travel</strong> Industry.’ Prior to PhoCusWright, Mr Wolf waspresident and CEO of <strong>Travel</strong>mation, a venture-funded software developer and travel booking engine pioneer,later sold to Rosenbluth International. He first entered the travel commerce arena in 1989 as head of a smallagency. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University and holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University’sOwen Graduate School of Management.59
Profiles<strong>The</strong> <strong>Programme</strong>INDUSTRYSarmad ZokChief Executive OfficerKingdom Hotel InvestmentsSarmad Zok (39) was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Kingdom Hotel Investments(KHI) in September 2001, having previously worked for Kingdom Hotel Partners LLC,a private equity fund operating in New York and London in 1999-2001. Since joining KHI, Sarmad has builtthe business into a leading hotel and resort investment company and successfully led KHI’s $1.6bn listing onDIFX and LSE in March 2006.Sarmad has extensive knowledge of emerging markets and the hotel industry, having previously workedwith KHI as an Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development and was responsible for the hotelinvestment and asset management activities within the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He has also headed Forteplc’s development effort in the Middle East, Africa and India. Sarmad started his career in 1992 with HiltonHotels where he was in charge of business development operations before moving on to work with HVSInternational in hotel consulting and valuation in London.Sarmad holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management from the University of Surrey and a Masters ofArts in Property Valuation and Law from City University Business School in London. He is a member of theBoard of Directors of Kingdom Hotel Investment, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Raffles HoldingInternational.Sarmad is fluent in English, French and Arabic.60
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