WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008

CORPORATE PROGRAM

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN SOLD OUT.

The Global Financial Crisis: CEO Perspectives

Thomas J. Pritzker, Chairman, Global Hyatt Corporation

Gordon Segal, Chairman and Founder, Crate and Barrel

Thomas J. Wilson, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, The Allstate Corporation

Moderated by Michael H. Moskow, Vice Chairman and Senior Fellow on the Global Economy, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

In the aftermath of a $700 billion rescue plan for the U.S. economy, widespread credit tightening, and plunging global equity markets, uncertainty has filtered to the wider economy and corporations are wrestling with increasing business risk in an already difficult operating environment. Although some companies have proven resilient, the financial crisis is taking its toll on almost every market sector and executives are trying to find ways to spur economic growth and productivity as U.S. consumer confidence falls to an all-time low. Recognizing the global impact of the crisis, the leaders of the G20 nations will be meeting in Washington D.C. to develop a common understanding of its causes and with hopes to come to an agreement on a set of principles for an overhaul of the world's regulatory structures. High growth BRIC economies, once thought to be more immune to the crisis, have started to feel the strain, adding further pressures to the challenge. This week, a leading global investment bank predicted a "major recession for the world economy over the year ahead, with growth in the industrial countries falling to its lowest level since the Great Depression and global growth falling to 1.2 per cent, its lowest level since the severe downturn of the early 1980s." What does the current crisis mean for U.S. global competitiveness? What actions are corporations taking to address the challenges? How will companies ensure continued investment in innovation, crucial to long-term sustainable growth? How will the undefined economic and regulatory agenda of a new leadership in Washington further complicate decision making? Three of Chicago’s most prominent business leaders will address these and other audience questions, and provide a real time analysis of the global economy at its most precarious time in decades.

Thomas J. Pritzker is chairman of Global Hyatt Corporation. He is also chairman and chief executive officer of The Pritzker Organization, a family merchant bank, and chairman of Marmon Group, Inc. He is on the Board of Directors of Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. and Trans Union, a leading global provider of credit information and tools for credit decision making. He is also a founding member and chairman of the Board of Directors of Bay City Capital, LLC, a merchant bank specializing in life sciences. He is a member of The Business Council, a national organization of CEOs.

Gordon Segal is chairman and founder of Crate and Barrel, a $1.4 billion, multi-channel home furnishings retail chain, employing more than 7,000 associates across the country. The company has over 160 stores across the U.S., as well as a successful gift registry program and a thriving direct marketing business. In 2007, Gordon Segal was inducted into the World Retail Congress’ World Retail Hall of Fame. Other recent awards include the Retailing Hall of Fame at Texas A&M, the Cooper-Hewitt’s Design Patron Award, House Beautiful Magazine’s Giant of Design Designation and the National Retail Federation Gold Medal Award.

Thomas J. Wilson is the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of The Allstate Corporation and Allstate Insurance Company. Wilson has served as president and chief executive officer of Allstate since 2007. He became chairman of The Allstate Corporation's Board of Directors in May 2008. From 2002 to 2006, Wilson was president of Allstate Protection, responsible for the company's property-casualty insurance operations. In 2005 and 2006, he also served as president and chief operating officer of The Allstate Corporation. From 1999 to 2002, Wilson was chairman and president of Allstate Financial, which provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products.  From 1995 to 1998, Wilson served as Allstate's chief financial officer.

University Club (Business Attire is required for entry)
76 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603

7:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Panel Discussion and Q & A
9:30 a.m. Adjournment

Members $35
Nonmembers $45

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