For the First Time in the United States International Family Business Owners Hold Annual Meeting in Chicago

CHICAGO, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Family Business Network, the nonprofit leading international family business organization which gathers family business owners from all over the world, will hold its annual summit for the first time in the United States in Chicago October 1-2, 2010.

John Elkann, Chairman of FIAT and EXOR (Agnelli Family), Chris Galvin, former Chairman and CEO of Motorola, co-founder of Harrison Street, and Admiral William Owens, former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and current Chairman and CEO, AEA Holdings Asia, will deliver keynote speeches to tackle the summit's theme: "Innovation: Keeping the Family Business Vibrant for Generations."

More than 500 CEOs, owners and family owners of the world's most powerful global families from 40 countries will discuss how they combine their deep-rooted traditions with a higher level of risk taking to continually innovate. "Family companies can reinvent themselves, invest for the long term and take risks in ways that publicly held companies tend not to. Harnessed successfully, family businesses' values and principles make them ideal engines for innovation of all kinds," Thierry Lombard says. "These companies can therefore deepen their contributions to community, society, and environment by maintaining and creating jobs."

"This year's summit investigates the role of innovation through an array of exceptional speakers who will include Moira Forbes, publisher of ForbesWoman, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, Chairman of Champagne Taittinger, Boja Pascual Gomez-Cuetera, Grupo Leche Pascual board member and Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson," adds Andrew Keyt, director of the American Chapter of FBN and Executive Director of the Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center.

The 21st FBN International Summit is "by Families for Families". Participation is limited to members of family businesses, CEOs of family owned businesses or by special invitation from FBN International or its chapters.

About the Family Business Network

The Family Business Network (FBN) is the leading international family business organization with more than 3,400 member companies in 45 countries. FBN member companies cover many industries and range in size up to large international corporations that have passed through several generations. The Family Business Network and FBN members share the following common objectives and mutually support: promoting family business, developing new generation opportunities and sharing best practices and knowledge within the network.

For more information: www.fbn-i.org.

SOURCE Family Business Network