Klaus Schwab

Role Within the World Economic Forum

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum

Qualifications

Studied at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Universities of Fribourg and Harvard. Degrees include Doctorates in Mechanical Engineering and in Economics (summa cum laude).

Career

1972-2003, Professor of Business Policy, University of Geneva. Author of several books, the yearlyGlobal Competitiveness Report (since 1979) and numerous other publications. Founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and built it into the foremost global partnership of business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society committed to improving the state of the world. Co-founder (1998), with his wife Hilde, of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, supporting social innovation around the world. Founder (2004) of The Forum of Young Global Leaders. Has been active, in addition, in editorial, academic and public service organizations, as well as in UN-related high-level functions. Academic distinctions include Honorary Professorship and six honorary doctorates. For his initiatives undertaken in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest and for his reconciliation efforts in several regions he has received numerous international and national honours, including the Knighthood (KCMG) bestowed by H.M. the Queen of England.