Etienne F. Davignon

Biographical Information
"Mr. Étienne F. Davignon serves as Vice President of Suez-Trac and President of Friends of Europe. Mr. Davignon serves as the President of Compagnie des Wagons-Lits (Belgium), SIBEKA (Belgium) and Palais des Beaux-Arts (Belgium). He serves as Vice President of Société Générale de Belgique (Belgium), Umicore (Belgium), Petrofina (Belgium), Fortis (Belgium), Tractebel (Belgium) and Accor (France). He serves as a Member of Editorial Board of Europe's World. He served as Vice President of Arbed (Luxembourg). From 1962 to 1977, he served as the Head of the Cabinet of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was responsible for the Political Department of the Ministry from 1969 to 1977.

"Mr. Davignon served as the European Community's Commissioner for Industry and International Markets from 1977 to 1981 and as the European Community's Vice President of Research, Industry and Energy Policies from 1981 to 1984. He has been an Independent Non-Executive Chairman of CMB NV since March 27, 2002. He has been the Chairman of Recticel NV since May 2004. He serves as the Chairman at SN Air Holding, Brussels Airlines NV/SA, Compagnie de Wagons Lits in France and the Royal Institute of International Relations. He served as the Chairman of CMB NV from 1989 to 1998. He served as the Chairman of Fortis Holding NV until December 2008. He joined Société Générale de Belgique in 1985 and served as its Executive Chairman from April 1985 to February 2001. He serves as Vice Chairman of Aurubis Belgium nv/sa. Mr. Davignon serves as Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Council of Société Générale de Belgique. He served as a Vice Chairman of Société Générale de Belgique until October 31, 2003. He served as Vice Chairman of Suez-Tractebel SA since 1998. He served as Vice Chairman of Societe Generale de Belgique SA. Mr. Davignon served as Vice Chairman of Supervisory Board at Accor SA. He served as Vice Chairman of Recticel SA since September 3, 2001. He served as Vice Chairman of Umicore SA from May 10, 2000 to April 13, 2005. He served as Vice Chairman of Ageas SA/NV (formerly, Fortis SA/NV) until May 2004. He serves as Honorary Director of Sofina SA. He has been an Independent Director of Gilead Sciences Inc. since September 1990. He has been Director of Gilead Palo Alto, Inc. since 1990. He serves as a Director of Centre for European Policy Studies. He has been an Independent Non-Executive Director of CMB NV since 1985. He serves as a Director of Brussels Airlines NV/SA and Real Software and Recticel NV. He served as a Director of Sofina SA. He served as a Director of GDF Suez (Formerly Known as Suez SA) from August 3, 1989 to May 3, 2010. He served as a Director of Ageas SA/NV until December 2008. He served as a Director of Gaz de France SA and Solvay SA. He served as a Director of Umicore SA from December 4, 1989 to April 13, 2005. Mr. Davignon served as a Director of Pechiney since 1996. He served as a Director of Alcan France S.A.S., Sidmar (Belgium) and Anglo American Plc until May 10, 2002. He served as a Director of Suez-Tractebel SA since 1986. He served as a Member of Supervisory Board at Accor SA from May 16, 1990 to May 13, 2008 and BASF SE since 1993. He served as a Director of Accor SA since January 9, 2006 until May 13, 2008. He served as a Director of Fortis Holding NV until December 2008. Mr. Davignon occupied the functions in Belgium of Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister from 1964 to 1969 and Chairman of the International Energy Agency Management Committee from 1974 to 1977. He graduated from the University of Louvain as a Doctor in Law."

Criticism

 * David Cronin, "Making Fortunes from Pillage: Profiting From Congo’s Plunder", Counterpunch, May 27, 2013.

Related Sourcewatch

 * Gilead Sciences
 * Bilderberg
 * European Institute
 * Percy Barnevik