September 7, 2009. CEIBS Lujiazui Finance Research Centre -- The integration of social responsibility and sustainable leadership in today's demanding business world was the topic of discussion today during a Signing Ceremony in which AXA assumed sponsorship for the Euro-China Centre for Leadership and Responsibility (ECCLAR). The centre, which is operated by the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), “is committed -- through research, education, forum, and network building -- to contributing to the development of responsible leadership in Chinese organizations, and to enhancing the capacity of Europeans and Chinese to manage their long- term interdependence for their mutual benefit.”

"AXA enjoys a long and distinguished history as an industry leader in China, a company that has set and maintained standards of excellence in the insurance field. Therefore, AXA makes an ideal corporate partner to sponsor the Euro-China Centre for Leadership and Responsibility," said CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhang Weijiong, in his opening remarks. Prof Zhang pointed out that AXA has been a corporate partner of CEIBS since 2000, and welcomed the company in expanding its support of the school through assuming sponsorship of the ECCLAR.

Mr. John Dacey, Group Regional CEO for AXA Japan &
Asia-Pacific

In his address, Group Regional CEO for AXA Japan & Asia-Pacific Mr. John Dacey praised AXA’s long-standing partnership with CEIBS in developing the world-class talent pool and “thought leadership,” and voiced his high expectations for the new cooperation. “Being the leading China-based international business school with a history rooted in European vision, CEIBS has contributed greatly in cultivating financial talents to support the development of China as well as global markets. Through the past nine years of close partnership in the areas of leadership and social responsibility, CEIBS and AXA have enjoyed successful cooperation in joint research, executive education and development of business talent -- particularly in the areas of innovative leadership and CSR. The sponsorship of ECCLAR in China is another good practice that follows AXA’s philosophy toward and commitment to CSR. We are look forward to a strong all-around strategic cooperation with CEIBS over the long term.”

Mr Jamie McCarry, AXA-Minmetals Assurance CEO and President

There is no better time than now to support the systematic study and active cultivation of CSR here in China, added AXA-Minmetals Assurance CEO and President Mr Jamie McCarry, who is also Chairman of the CEIBS Corporate Advisory Board. “In viewing China broadly, we believe the development of new dimensions of leadership is more relevant here than in many other markets. During the swift development of China as an emerging market, the price of blind corporate behavior that targets short-term returns has shown itself on many fronts. Due to the short-term pursuit of profit the trust level of the newly developing insurance industry is low despite the industry‘s youth. In AXA’s role as a pioneer in the China market on the subject of CSR, we remain excited by our partnership with CEIBS and ECCLAR, and dedicated to redefining standards and earning the trust necessary to be the preferred company in China market.” 

Prof Henri Claude de Bettignies, CEIBS’ Distinguished Professor of Global Responsible Leadership

In concluding the presentations, CEIBS’ Distinguished Professor of Global Responsible Leadership Prof Henri Claude de Bettignies introduced “The Goals of ECCLAR.” As the founder of the Centre, Prof de Bettignies highlighted its work to promote responsible leadership through research; education and training programs; and workshops, conferences and forum.

About AXA
AXA Group is a Global Fortune 500 organization, whose first company was established in 1816. It is a worldwide leader in financial protection and wealth management. In 2008, it was also by Business Week as one of the Top 100 Global Brands. AXA Group is one of the investment managers of equity active products granted by National Council for Social Security Fund.

Key figures for the year 2008 are:
80 million clients worldwide
214 044 employees (including exclusive sales associates) worldwide
91.2 billion euros in revenues
Assets under management of Euro 981 billion

For more information, please visit: www.axa.com

About AXA-Minmetals Assurance
AXA-Minmetals Assurance Company Limited, a joint venture of the two Global 500 group- AXA Group and Minmetals Corporation, is the first Sino-French insurance company in China and also the first life insurer approved by China Insurance Regulatory Commission. Established in its headquarter Shanghai in June 1999, the company has boasted stable and sustainable development with its constant philosophy of Commitments to Development of China. With ambition of Becoming the Preferred Company, its business scope has now covered east, south and north China with Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing as centers of the three hubs. The company now is expanding its geographic footprint actively for further nationwide expansion.

About CEIBS
The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is a non-profit joint venture established in 1994 between the Chinese government and the European Commission. CEIBS is the first business school in mainland China that offers a full-time MBA, an Executive MBA, and a wide array of Executive Development Programs. CEIBS operates a main campus in Shanghai, a representative office and teaching facilities in Beijing and in Shenzhen. In November 2009, CEIBS will open a new campus in Beijing, giving the school its second stand-alone campus. In March 2009, CEIBS officially began the CEIBS Africa Programme, offering an EMBA programme taught in Accra, Ghana.

As of 2009, CEIBS has graduated nearly 8000 MBA and EMBA graduates and has provided management training for 60,000 executives through the Executive Development Programs. The school has 40 Alumni Chapters around China and in Europe.

CEIBS is accredited under world’s two leading international accreditation systems are EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) & AACSB (Assoc. for Advancement of Collegiate Schools). In terms of international rankings, the Financial Times ranks the CEIBS MBA Programme as #1 in Asia and #8 worldwide (2009), its EMBA Programme as #23 worldwide, and its Executive Education Open Programme as #19 worldwide. For further information, please visit www.ceibs.edu.

About ECCLAR
The mission of ECCLAR is to create and share knowledge - particularly in the areas of leadership and responsibility - and to develop relationships in order to enhance the capacity of both China and Europe to manage their interdependence for mutual benefit. To achieve the above, the Centre engages in four categories of interrelated and synergic activities: knowledge creation (research and development), knowledge transfer (education and training), knowledge sharing (conferences and networking), and hosting an annual ECCLAR Forum which brings together Chinese and European business, government and opinion leaders to exchange ideas with corporate members of the Centre on issues of common concern. Examples of ECCLAR Forum topics include "Scrambling for energy, but on one planet: strategic implications for China and Europe,” "Intellectual property and transfer of technology: the time dimension in managing them,” and "Sustainable development: the singularity and global dimension of the Chinese situation.” For more information, please visit: www.ceibs.edu/ecclar