GREENWICH — In its first two years, the Greenwich Financial Discussion board’s annual convention was held on the Greenwich Delamar lodge. Final yr, it switched to an all-online format in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This yr, it can mix the 2 fashions.
The GEF’s founders introduced this week that the 2021 convention will probably be held Sept. 21-23, with its first day of applications happening on the Greenwich Delamar. The organizers additionally confirmed that Ray Dalio, the founding father of Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, will return for
one other talking look at one of many premier gatherings of leaders in monetary companies and different main sectors.
“It’s been a long gone 15 months, and our sense is that members of the Greenwich Financial Discussion board group are wanting to convene in particular person once more,” mentioned GEF co-founder and co-chairman James Aiello. “And so we’ve structured the 2021 convention on Sept 21-23 to have a significant period of time at our conventional venue once more, the Delamar lodge right here in Greenwich, whereas additionally having a big period of time for our worldwide viewers and audio system by way of a digital format to additionally take part.”
Dalio, a Greenwich resident, spoke at every of the primary three GEF conferences. He was not instantly out there to touch upon his participation on this yr’s occasion.
Resuming a partnership that underpinned the 2019 gathering, the Monetary Occasions’ occasions staff has been employed to provide this yr’s convention in partnership with the Greenwich Enterprise Institute, the entity that owns and operates the Greenwich Financial Discussion board.
“We don’t need this to be perceived as a regional occasion. We would like this to be perceived the best way (the World Financial Discussion board convention in) Davos is perceived, which is that it’s an occasion occurring in Greenwich — however it’s Greenwich welcoming the world to take part with us,” mentioned GEF co-founder and co-chairman Bruce McGuire. “Final yr actually helped us to push that messaging and appeal to a a lot wider, world viewers.”
Aiello additionally cited his satisfaction with the influence of final yr’s occasion.
“The pandemic pressured us to have a one hundred pc digital convention in November of final yr that we did in partnership with The Economist, and we had been capable of have over 1,500 individuals take part from 86 nations, which is unimaginable,” Aiello mentioned. “That is nearly 4 instances the quantity we will match into the Delamar lodge and clearly additionally far better worldwide illustration than we might usually obtain. So our plan is to have the advantages of each codecs this yr and, we predict, most likely going ahead as nicely.”
Headline audio system on the 2020 GEF convention included Dalio; Annie Lamont, co-founder and managing associate of Greenwich-based enterprise capital agency Oak HC/FT; and former PepsiCo CEO and chairman Indra Nooyi, who’s now an Amazon board member.
“Actually world-class audio system and trade leaders collect for the Greenwich Financial Discussion board, and I sit up for taking part once more in future occasions,” Lamont mentioned. “With its location in Greenwich and its proximity to New York Metropolis and the world’s main monetary establishments, the Discussion board is uniquely positioned to curate conversations on the defining subject of our time, significantly these affecting the way forward for well being care and monetary know-how.”
City officers are additionally wanting ahead to the convention’s return to the Delamar.
“The convention grows every year, and it actually places Greenwich on the map relating to financial boards,” mentioned Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo. “I salute Bruce McGuire and Jim Aiello for all of the work they do with this every year and hope that we, in town aspect, could be a associate in selling this for them.”
pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott