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Matthew Anestis joins 175 leading executives, public figures and intellectuals under the age of 40 from 50 countries who have been selected to collectively shape the future.

Geneva, Switzerland  (January 9, 2006)—The Forum of Young Global Leaders, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum, proudly announces today that Matthew Anestis, a Manager in The Boston Consulting Group’s Toronto office, has been named a member of the Young Global Leaders. He is one of 41 North Americans chosen to become Young Global Leaders in 2006 and will join a global community now including 410 leaders from all regions and stakeholder groups.

Established in 2004 by Professor Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, the Forum of Young Global Leaders is a unique, multi-stakeholder community of the world’s most extraordinary leaders who are 40 years old or younger and who are ready to dedicate a part of their time and energy to jointly work towards a better future. They engage together in the 2020 Initiative, a comprehensive endeavour, to understand current and future trends, risks and opportunities both at global and regional levels, formulate a positive vision for the world in 2020 and put forward concrete strategies to translate their vision into action.

Each year a new class of around 200 YGLs is selected for a five year membership, ultimately forming a community of 1,111 by 2009. The 2006 class was chosen from among 3,500 candidates by the Forum of Young Global Leaders’ Nomination Committee, featuring 28 international media leaders, including Carl-Johan Bonnier of Bonnier AB in Sweden, Arthur Sulzberger, the publisher of the New York Times, Tom Glocer, chief executive of Reuters and Rui Chenggang, Director and Anchor of China Central Television in the  People’s Republic of China. The Committee is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The 2006 class of Young Global Leaders includes over 60 business leaders, more than 30 government leaders, and dozens of scholars, media and nongovernmental organization leaders. They come from 50 countries ranging from Argentina to Zimbabwe . Matthew Anestis joins a community representing 90 countries that includes Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google; Mikheil  SAAKASHVILI, President of Georgia; Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation; Daniela Mercury, Singer, Brazil and Michelle Guthrie, Chief Executive Officer, Star Group.

During their first meeting in Zermatt, Switzerland and throughout 2005 Young Global Leaders formed task forces addressing priority global challenges for 2020 in the areas of development and poverty, global governance and security, environment, education, and health. In addition, a delegation of Young Global Leaders visited the earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan in December 2005 as a first effort in supporting disaster relief and long-term reconstruction.

The Young Global Leaders will meet as a community at their Annual Summit in Vancouver, Canada, 9-12 June 2006, when they will engage together in the 2020 Initiative, a comprehensive endeavour, to understand current and future trends, risks and opportunities at both the global and regional levels, formulate a positive vision for the world in 2020 and put forward concrete strategies to translate their vision into action.

For more information and a detailed list of all Young Global Leaders, please visit www.younggloballeaders.org as of 9 January 00.01 CET.

The Forum of Young Global Leaders is an independent, Geneva, Switzerland-based foundation whose mission is to build a unique, multi-stakeholder community of the world’s most extraordinary leaders under the age of 40 and give them a platform to collaborate and shape best practices for the future of the world. Each year we identify and mobilize a new group of 200 exceptional men and women in business, politics, academia, the media and civil society from every region in the world. Together, they form a powerful international force for the global common good.

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world's leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with 66 offices in 38 countries.