CNN International anchor to moderate 'Leaders In Dubai'

Hodson, who has interviewed some of the most powerful European politicians including German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, will moderate the 'Leaders in Dubai' speaker panel, which features seven of the world's most prominent leadership experts.

Taking to the platform at 'Leaders in Dubai,' which will be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre from November 29-30, will be former Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani; Harvard Business School Professor, Michael Porter; Tom Peters, the Ur-guru of management; best-selling author Frank Maguire; MIT's Professor of Management and Economics, Lester Thurow; influential futurologist, Alvin Toffler and former GE Chairman and CEO, Jack Welch, who will address the audience via a videocast link.

"Charles Hodson brings to 'Leaders in Dubai' the authoritative voice and expertise of a broadcast guru who has interviewed some of the world's most influential business people. His interviewee portfolio reads like a who's who of European finance and industry," said Jessica Sutherland, General Manager, IIR Exhibitions & Conferences, which owns LEADING MINDS, the organisers of 'Leaders in Dubai.'

A UK national who is fluent in German, Italian and French, Charles Hodson is a scholar of Eton College and holds a BSc in politics and economics from Oxford University.

"Charles' impressive broadcast career makes him an ideal candidate to moderate the 'Leaders in Dubai' debate which will voice strong opinions and advice to the 1,500 Middle East business executives expected to attend," said Sutherland.

CNN is a key media partner for 'Leaders in Dubai' and lines up alongside other media partners AMEinfo.com, the Middle East's leading online business resource and Al Hayat, the leading Arabic Pan Arab daily.

"CNN is fully behind 'Leaders in Dubai' seeing it as a long overdue initiative in assisting the leadership debate in the Middle East," said Rani Raad, Vice President, Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa, CNN.