Honoring
Ms. Irene Rosenfeld
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kraft Foods

Keynote Speaker
Ms. Sarah Miller Caldicott
Great grandniece of Thomas Edison
CEO of Power Patterns of Innovation
"Edison Illuminates Paris" 

We are honored to welcome
His Excellency François Delattre
Ambassador of France to the United States
presenting this year's Innovator of the Year Award
Read Monsieur Delattre's biography here.

Irene Rosenfeld is Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, where she leads the world's second largest food company - a nearly $50 billion global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love.

Irene began her Kraft Foods career in 1981, when she joined General Foods in consumer research.  Since then, she has advanced through various leadership roles over three decades.  Among her accomplishments:  turning around key businesses in the U.S., Canada and Mexico; spearheading the company's IPO in 2001; and successfully integrating the Nabisco (2000), LU (2007) and Cadbury (2010) businesses.  Before returning to Kraft Foods, Irene was Chairman and CEO of Frito-Lay (2004-2006).

Forbes has named Irene one of the world's "100 Most Powerful Women"and Fortune ranks her No. 2 on its "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" list.

Kraft Foods opened a new R&D center in the Paris suburb of Saclay in April 2011.  This facility will serve as the company's European Center of Expertise for Biscuits, focusing on innovation and new product development for many of Europe's most beloved biscuit brands, including LU, Mikado, Oreo, Prince and TUC.

Michael Clarke, Executive Vice President and President of Kraft Foods Europe, said, "France is an important strategic market for biscuits and for Kraft Foods globally.  This investment makes good business sense, allowing us to continue to drive biscuit innovation and future growth."

Sarah Miller Caldicott
CEO of Power Patterns of Innovation

At this year's La Nuit des Etoiles gala, Sarah presents "Edison Illuminates Paris", an exclusive insight into the breakthrough methods and innovation principles of Thomas Edison, how they electrified the city of Paris and transformed the world.

A great grandniece of Thomas Edison, Sarah Miller Caldicott has been engaged in creativity and innovation throughout her life. Sarah is President of her own Chicago-based consultancy, The Power Patterns of Innovation, offering organizations of all sizes expert training and guidance on how to achieve innovation success in the global economy. She has appeared as an innovation expert on PBS television, CNBC, the Fox Business Network, and NPR. Sarah holds a BA from Wellesley College, and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Read Sarah's full biography here.

This year’s La Nuit des Etoiles live auction offers winning bidders the experiences of a lifetime,
from a one-week stay for two at the luxurious and exclusive Thalassa Sea & Spa Resort in Quiberon, France, to a dinner for 10 with the French Consul General Mr. Graham Paul under the generous hospitality of Hervé de la Vauvre, to a Harley Davidson weekend from FACC-Chicago President Juan-Luis Goujon, and more!

Proceeds from the live auction will go towards FACC-Chicago’s mission to support its growing French-American business community.

Read about all 6 of our live auction lots here.

His Excellency François Delattre
Ambassador of France to the United States

The Honorable Graham Paul
Consul General of France in the Midwest

The Honorable Patrick J. Quinn
Governor of Illinois

The Honorable Rahm Emanuel
Mayor of Chicago

Mr. Juan Luis Goujon
President, French-American Chamber of Commerce
Chicago Chapter

2010: Hervé de la Vauvre, CEO & Worldwide President, Griffith Laboratories
2009: Pierre-Antoine Gailly, President of UCCIFE, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris
2008: Philippe Chalmin, Chairman of CyclOpe and Professor at the University of Paris-Dauphine, Sponsored by Veolia Environnement
2007: John Bliven, Managing Director, High Voltage Products, AREVA T&D
2006: Luc Godtler, CEO, Inter Action Consultants, Corp. and Michel Moulin, CEO, S.K. Hand Tool Corporation
2005: Jeffrey Joerres, Chairman & CEO, Manpower Inc.
2004: Yves Galland, President, Boeing France
2003: Maurice Lévy, Chairman & CEO, Publicis Groupe S.A.
2002: Marc Onetto, Vice President and General Manager, Global Supply Chain, G.E. Medical Systems
2001: Jim Skinner, President Europe, McDonald’s Corporation
2000: Christian Maurin, Chairman President & CEO, Nalco Chemical Company
1999: Samir G. Gibara, Chairman President & CEO, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
1998: Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Owner, Château Mouton Rothschild
1997: John H. Bryan, Chairman, & CEO, The Sara Lee Corporation
1996: Jean-Pierre Rosso, Chairman, President & CEO, Case Corporation
1995: Didier Varlet, President & CEO, Indosuez Carr Futures Inc.
1994: François J. Castaing, Vice President, Vehicle Engineering, Chrysler Corporation
1993: Charles W. Denny, President & CEO, Schneider North America and Square D Company