Paris and New York, May 10, 2007 – The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has appointed Louise Kantrow, a former United Nations official with extensive experience in the government and nonprofit arenas, as its new permanent representative to the UN.
In April, Ms. Kantrow succeeded William J. Stibravy, ICC’s longstanding UN representative, who has retired following over a quarter-century representing business in the world body. Like him, she will be based in the Manhattan offices of ICC’s American national committee, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).
“ICC’s links to the UN span over 60 years,” noted ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban. “Thanks to her skills and experience, Ms. Kantrow will efficiently take on the vital role of ICC ‘s UN representative.”
With more than 8,000 member companies in over 140 countries, the Paris-based ICC is the largest, most representative private-sector association in the world. It has served as the voice of business at the UN since 1945, frequently taking part in UN and related multilateral deliberations in the economic, social and environmental arenas.
Ms. Kantrow’s career has included posts within the United Nations and senior positions at nonprofit, governmental and intergovernmental organizations closely associated with UN activities. Most recently, she served as executive director of the International League for Human Rights, one of the oldest human rights organizations in the world. Prior to that, as executive vice president and chief operating officer with the UN Association of the USA (UNA-USA), she supervised a major expansion of programs at the Business Council to the United Nations.
The new ICC representative has also served as senior advisor to the United Nations Population Fund and as director of operations at the Population Council. She worked for fourteen years as economic affairs officer in the UN Department of Economic and Social Development, following service as a senior economist with the U.S. Agency for International Development and as a population affairs officer with the UN. Ms. Kantrow holds doctoral and master’s degrees in demography and economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Ms. Kantrow said she wished to utilize her background in economic development to focus business activity in the UN on promoting international trade and sustainable development, and in ensuring business can contribute to the success of joint initiatives like the UN Global Compact.
“The private sector is a critical partner in solving intractable problems and in helping countries develop,” she stated. “This is a very exciting time to be helping lend the business community’s experience and know-how to the important work of the United Nations.”
Peter M. Robinson, president of USCIB, welcomed Ms. Kantrow and praised her predecessor. “A lot of the credit for the UN’s more positive attitude toward business in recent years can go to Bill Stibravy,” he said. “We in ICC’s American national committee have come to rely on the presence of ICC’s permanent representative, and I am sure Louise will provide able representation for global business at this critical time.”
USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and protection of the environment. Its membership includes some 300 U.S. companies, professional service firms and associations whose combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion. As American affiliate of the leading international business and employers organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade.
Contacts:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org
Mary Kelly, ICC
+33 1 4953 2987 or mary.Kelly@iccwbo.org
