Best of European Business

Atlanta/Munich, October 2, 2006

CNN, the world's leading international news network, is to be the international media partner for the 2006/7 Best of European Business Awards. This initiative is being conducted in the 10 strongest European economies together with academic and media partners from each of these countries. The finals will take place in Brussels on March 15, 2007.


Best of European Business (BEB) is being organized by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, the only global top management consultancy with European origins. In 2007, the BEB awards will recognize the most successful companies in Europe, judging them by growth, making the most of opportunities in Europe, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

The awards will be presented at the European Business Summit which brings together 2,500 senior figures in European business and government. In 2007, the event will be commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the European Economic Community.

Torsten Oltmanns of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants said: "We are delighted to have an organization with the global reach and reputation of CNN supporting these awards. Its increasingly authoritative business coverage makes it a worthy partner for Europe's premier business awards."

Mark Haviland, CNN Director of Marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa added: "CNN International's programming has strong business content and we see this partnership with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants as a great way to cement our credentials in front of a core European business audience."

Winners of the European awards are drawn from 10 European countries. These are chosen in national competitions in each of those countries by a high-powered panel of senior business leaders, academics and national media partners. Initial selection for the short list is made by Roland Berger consultants operating according to strict quantitative and qualitative guidelines. In 2006, the winner of the European Grand Prix was UBS, the financial services group.

Each country has an individual media sponsor in conjunction with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants; as the international media partner, CNN will focus mainly on the European Summit.

For further information,

visit:
or call:
CNN Justine Bower (+44 207 693-0968) or the
Roland Berger Strategy Consultants Press department (+49 89 9230-8349).