April 30, 2009
Schultheis replaces David Learmond, who had held the European position on an interim basis during the past nine months. Learmond will remain an Executive Fellow for global Human Capital at The Conference Board, working closely with Linda Barrington, Managing Director of the organisation’s Human Capital Knowledge Area, developing global human resources projects, research and networks.
Schultheis will be responsible for leading the staff, programmes and activities of The Conference Board across all its areas of operation in Europe, the Middle East and India. These include the delivery of Council programmes for peer-to-peer networking, the Economics Watch, KnowlEdge Series and other web-based programmes, and Research Working Group activities in the areas of Corporate Leadership, Human Capital, Economy, Markets & Value Creation and High-Performing Organisations. He will also be charged with maintaining and developing relationships with members and ensuring the sustained growth and global reach of the organisation.
Having joined The Conference Board in 2005, Schultheis has held a number of roles including an Executive Fellowship for the European Finance and Economics Councils, Programme Director of the Asia Pacific Risk Management and CFO Councils, and Managing Director of Global Development. Prior to joining The Conference Board, he was a Senior Vice President of Finance in Unilever holding
positions that included Finance Director of Unilever China, based in Shanghai, and Executive Vice President and CFO for Elizabeth Arden, based in New York.
Commenting on the appointment, Gail Fosler, President of The Conference Board, said: "We are extremely fortunate to have an executive with Rainer’s wealth of global business experience taking on this key role. He brings to the position a vast amount of knowledge about critical issues that concern and interest our members. Rainer has already made a significant contribution to The Conference Board, including helping to define our membership model across our major regions of operation and playing a pivotal role in obtaining full operating legal status for The Conference Board in India."
About The Conference Board
Founded in 1916, The Conference Board is the world’s foremost business membership and research association and has operated in Europe for more than 30 years. Non-partisan and not-for-profit, it provides leading organizations from around the globe with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance AND better service society. The Conference Board membership includes 1,800 of the world's largest companies in 60 countries. It publishes widely respected economic indicators and research on a range of business and management issues including productivity, diversity, corporate governance and concerns and challenges of CEOs.
The Conference Board produces monthly business cycle indicators for nine countries including the UK, France, Germany and Spain, as well as a recently launched indicator for the Euro Area. Its European programme provides opportunities for senior executives to share business insights, informed by perspectives from different industries and countries.
For further information, visit The Conference Board website at www.conference-board.org
…Rainer Schultheis has been appointed Managing Director of The Conference Board for Europe, the Middle East and India. He is a former Senior Vice President for Unilever and was most recently Managing Director for India and the Middle East at The Conference Board.