Carlson School Hosts AIB 60th Anniversary Conference

The 60^th anniversary of the Academy of International Business (AIB) was celebrated in style in Minneapolis June 25 to 28. The event, hosted by the Carlson School and the University of St. Thomas, brought together AIB members from all over the world to visit old colleagues, meet new ones, and explore the theme of the event, “Global Business and the Digital Economy.”

To celebrate AIB’s 60 years, the event featured an anniversary townhall, hosted by current AIB President Lorraine Eden and joined by 14 past presidents. The topic: “Where should AIB be in 10 years and how should we get there?” As part of this look toward the future, this year AIB introduced a code of ethics and mission, vision, and value statements that apply to all AIB members and will help guide the directions of the organization.

The conference also featured a birthday bash to celebrate the inaugural issue of AIB’s new publication, the Journal of International Business Policy.

Among the many awards presented at the conference, the prestigious International Executive of the Year honor was given to Land O’Lakes President and CEO Chris Policinski. This award recognizes business leaders who have significantly improved the reputation and performance of their respective firms on the international stage.

Policinski has more than 35 years of experience in the food industry. He joined Land O’Lakes in 1997 and was appointed president and CEO in 2005. Prior to joining Land O’Lakes, he held leadership positions with Kraft General Foods, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and The Pillsbury Company. He also is an emeritus member of the Carlson School Board of Overseers.