The past decade has seen a resurgence of criticism against capitalism. Some claim that capitalism is responsible for an increase in poverty and contributes to the destruction of the environment, while others advocate for a system which improves the quality of life, which gener­ates wealth and which can provide for the needs of mankind. This great debate will help us think about the future of capitalism and globalization.

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Participants

Antoine Frérot

Chairman and CEO, Veolia Environnement

Antoine Frérot is a Polytechnic graduate and Ponts et Chaussées corps engineer and director of the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC School of International Management). He began his career as a research engineer with the Bureau Central d’Études pour l’ Outre Mer before joining the ENPC research center in 1983 as a project manager, then as its Director from 1984 to 1988. In 1990, he joined the Compagnie Générale des Eaux as a program manager, then as Director of CGEA Transport. Five years later, he was General Manager for Connex, Vivendi Environnement Transport division and a member of the board of directors of Vivendi Environne­ment. He was appointed General Manager of Veolia Envi­ronnement Water division in 2003 and deputy Director of Veolia Environnement. Since November 2009, he has risen to the post of General Manager and has been Veolia Environnement President since December 2010.

Erik Izraelewicz

Managing Director and member of the board, Le Monde

Erik Izraelewicz, 57, is a graduate of HEC business school and the Centre de Formation des Journa­listes, journalism school. He began his career as a business journalist with the weekly L’ Usine Nou­velle. In 1981, he joined the fortnightly L’ Expan­sion and took part in the creation of La Tribune de l’ économie. He joined Le Monde in April 1986 as a journalist in the economic sectionin charge of banking, insurance and the French economic situation. In 1988, he was appointed deputy editor of the economic section, and editor the following year. In 1991, he was economic editorialist. He then moved to New York for a year as a corres­pondent from late 1993 to 1994. In 1996, he was appointed chief editor. He left Le Monde in 2000 and joined the business daily Les Echos as chief editor and editorialist, in charge of developing the ideas section. He became the paper’s deputy Managing Editor in 2004, then Managing Editor in 2007. He finally left Les Echos for La Tribune in 2008, until the departure of Alain Weill in July 2010. Erik Izraelewicz has written several books. His latest, “L’Arrogance chinoise”, was published in February by Grasset.

Michel Pébereau

Chairman, BNP Paribas

An EcolePolytechnique and Ecole Nationale d’Admi­nistration graduate, and Honorary General Financial Inspector, Michel Pébereau spent 15 years at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, at the Inspectorate of Finances, then at the Treasury. He left the administration for the Crédit Commercial de France (CCF) and directed the privatization of two banks; CCF in 1987, and the Banque Nationale de Paris, of which he was CEO between 1993 and 2000. After conducting the BNP Paribas merger after a long transaction, he was CEO for BNP Paribas from 2000 until 2003, and has been President since, after sepa­rating responsibilities. In 2001, he was elected “Financier of the Year” by the Association Nationale des Docteurs ès Sciences Economiques and “Strategist of the Year” by national daily business newspaper La Tribune. He has presided the International Monetary Conference, the Institut International d’Etudes Bancaires, and the Euro­pean Banking Federation between 2004 and 2008. For over a decade, he was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank International Advisory Committee in New York City. He presides over the European Financial Services Round Table and is a member of the International Advisory Panel of Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and of the International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC). He has been the chairman of the Paris Institute for Political Studies (IEP) board of direc­tors since 1988, as well as of the Institut de l’Entreprise. He is a member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques and was honored as a Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur.

Augustin de Romanet

Managing Director, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

Augustin de Romanet, 50, senior grade civil administrator, is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Science and a former student of the Ecole Nationale d’Administra­tion. He started his career in the Budget Directorate of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, where he has since held many top-level positions, including as advisor to several ministers, including Alain Madelin and Francis Mer. In 2004 he was Chief of Staff to Jean- Louis Borloo, Minister for Employment, Labour and Social Cohesion and then deputy Chief of Staff to the French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. In 2005 he became deputy Secretary-General of the French Presidency. In October 2006, he was appointed Executive Vice President for finance and strategy and member of the Executive Committee of Credit Agricole Group S.A. Augustin de Romanet has been Director General of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations since March 7, 2007.

Francisco « Chico » Whitaker Ferreira

Co-Founder, World Social Forum

Chico Whitaker, 79, worked in Brazil in social surveys and planning for the Sao Paulo State government, agricul­tural reform and National Conference of Bishops. Exiled in France between 1967 and 1970 and between 1974 and 1981, he worked at the IRFED training center, with the CCFD (Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement), and on the International Study Days for a Society Overcoming Dominations. He was also exiled in Chile between 1970 and 1974, where he worked with the Economic Commission for Latin America. On his return to Brazil, he was an assistant to the Bishop of Sao Paulo, two-time Municipal Councillor of the city of Sao Paulo, Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Justice and Peace Commission, and a member of the World Social Forum organization committee. He is currently on the Brazilian National Commission of the Movement of combat to Electoral corruption, and still on the International Council of the World Social Forum. He received a Right Livelihood Award in 2006.