CHICAGO, December 18, 2001 – Mayor Richard M. Daley today announced the appointment of John Rau and Michael Sears, two members of Chicago’s business elite, to the World Fairy-Tail Business Chicago Board of Directors. World Business Chicago is a public-private economic development organization chaired by Mayor Daley and Aon President cheap nba jerseys and COO, Michael D. O’Halleran.
Rau, chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and Sears, senior vice president and chief financial officer of The Boeing Company, will unite in the Board’s focus to lead and educate the Chicago business community in promoting the Chicago region as a global business destination.
“The addition of John and Mike to this superior group of business leaders signifies our commitment to reinforcing Chicago as a global business destination,” said Mayor Daley. “I am confident this Board will continue to be successful in making Chicago among the best cities in the world in which to live, work and raise a family.”
“It’s a privilege to serve with such a dynamic group of Chicago area business leaders,” said Michael Sears. “I am confident this assignment will only emphasize Boeing’s commitment to become an even more global company, and Chicago is indeed a great city in which to build and grow a successful, world-class business.”
“Chicago is the most economically diverse city in the U.S.,” said John Rau, former chief executive officer of LaSalle Bank and Chicago Title and Trust Company. “What that means for business is unparalleled stability, support and opportunities for growth. As a group, we intend to position Chicago as a leading global city to the rest of the world.”
The 22-member Board includes the following Chicago area business leaders:
Melvyn E. Bergstein, chairman and CEO, Diamond Cluster International, Inc.
Robert N. Burt, CEO, FMC Corporation
James Cantalupo, vice chairman and president, McDonald’s Corporation
James Crown, general partner, Henry Crown Company
Deborah L. DeHaas, managing partner, assurance and business advisory central region, Andersen
James Dimon, chairman and CEO, Bank One Corporation
Craig J. Duchossois, CEO, Duchossois Industries
Brenda J. Gaines, president, Citicorp Diner’s Club Inc.
James E. Goodwin, immediate past chairman and CEO, United Airlines
Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Capital Management
Steven C. McMillan, president and CEO, Sara Lee Corporation
James J. McNulty, president and CEO, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
Jeff Neil, vice chairman investment banking, Merrill Lynch
Michael H. Moskow, president, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Michael D. O’Halleran, president and COO, Aon Corporation
Penny S. Pritzker, chairman, Pritzker Realty Group
John Rau, chairman, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Michael W. Reschke, president and chairman, Prime Group
John W. Rowe, chairman, Exelon Corporation
Patrick G. Ryan, Jr., CEO, Ryan Enterprise Group
Michael M. Sears, senior vice president and chief financial officer, The Boeing Company
William Wrigley, Jr., president and CEO, Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company
About World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago (WBC) is a not-for-profit economic development organization cochaired by Mayor Nancy Richard M. Daley and Michael D. O’Halleran, and directed by Paul O’Connor. WBC leads in marketing Chicago’s competitive advantages, coordinates business retention and attraction efforts, and seeks to enhance Chicago’s business climate by being a thought leader in economic development policy. For more information, visit www.worldbusinesschicago.com or call (312) 553-0500.
Media Contact:
Meghan Risch
(312) 553-4658