World Economic Forum elects four new foundation board members

GENEVA/NEW DELHI: The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum today said it has elected four new members - MIT's Susan Hockfield, Alcoa's Klaus Kleinfeld, Jack Ma of Alibaba Group and Jim Hagemann Snabe, who is board member in a host of German firms

Susan Hockfield is the President Emerita and Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Klaus Kleinfeld is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Alcoa Inc, USA.

Jack Ma is the Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group, People's Republic of China and Jim Hagemann Snabe is the Member of the Board, SAP AG, Siemens AG and Allianz SE, Germany.

In a statement, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said: "I am honoured that the Forum is governed by a highly engaged Foundation Board, which ensures that our activities respond to our mission statement of improving the state of the world."

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and PepsiCo's India-born Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi are already members of the WEF Foundation Board.

The Foundation Board serves as the guardian of the World Economic Forum's mission and values.

"Currently, we manage over 50 global projects. This would not be possible without the advice and direction of my colleagues on the Foundation Board who bring unique leadership experience from business, politics and academia, demonstrating the Forum's multistakeholder responsibility," Schwab said.

The WEF is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship.

It engages with business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.