AIAC AT THE 56TH ANNUAL WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS
For Immediate Release
Davos, Switzerland - January 19 - 23, 2026 A delegation of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) Executives and Senior Advisors joined with Members and Fellows of The Explorers Club at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held the week of January 19, 2026.
The Davos summit, themed "A Spirit of Dialogue," brought together nearly 3,000 cross-sector leaders from over 130 countries. The event featured record levels of governmental participation, with 400 top political leaders—including close to 65 heads of state and government and six of the G7's leaders—alongside nearly 850 of the world's top CEOs and chairpersons, and almost 100 leading unicorns and technology pioneers. Taking place at a moment defined by profound geopolitical, technological and societal shifts, the forum sought to foster dialogue, collaboration and action on pressing global challenges.
Prominent heads of state, high ranking current and former government officials attending the conference included:
Donald Trump, US President
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
Scott Bessent, US Secretary of the Treasury
Howard Ludnick, US Secretary of Commerce
Jamison Greer, US Trade Representative
Al Gore, Former US Vice President
Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the UK
He Lifeng, Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain
Javier Milei, President of Argentina
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore
Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government of Morocco
Guy Parmelin, President of Switzerland
H. E. Philippe, King of Belgium
H. E. Princess Reema Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the US
Kevin Rudd, Australian Ambassador to the US, Former Prime Minister of Australia
Tom Tillis, US Senator from North Carolina
Lisa Murkowski, US Senator from Alaska
Chris Coons, US Senator from Delaware
Gretchen Witmer, Governor of Michigan
Jane Harmon, former Member of Congress and Chair of the Wilson Centre
Notable Explorers Club Members and Fellows present at the 2026 World Economic Forum included:
Ken Griffin, Chairman, Citadel
Elon Musk, Chairman, Tesla and Spacex, StarLInk, X, Neuralink, OpenAI, xAI, the Boring Company,
Eric Schmidt, Former CEO, Google
Ray Dalio, Chairman, Bridgewater Associates
Dr. Joel Myers, Founder and Chairman of AccuWeather
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder and Chair, Mission Blue
Sandy Climan, Founder and Chairman, Entertainment Media
Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Voyager Space
Dr. Deborah Brosnan, Chair, Deborah Brosnan Associates
Adam Falkoff, Global Managing Partner of Strategic Ventures, Microsoft
The AIAC delegation included:
Amit Arora, Managing Director, AIAC, CEO, Avara Pharmaceutical Services, American Kraft Paper Industries, and KI USA
Shirley Hon, AIAC VP, Mergers and Acquisitions and Philanthropy
Jim Hurd, AIAC Senior Advisor, Advanced Technologies, Chairman, Hurd Family Office
Annette Selmeier, AIAC Senior Advisor, Energy, Chair, Effective Energy GmbH
Max Studdenikoff, AIAC Senior Advisor, Environmental Issues, Chair CC Global
Wendy Diamond, AIAC Senior Advisor, Philanthropy
David Hamilton Nichols, AIAC Senior Advisor, Advanced Technology
The 2026 meeting was structured around five critical areas of focus:
Geopolitics and Growth: Exploring how cooperation can be renewed amid contested norms, strained alliances and eroding trust.
Navigating Uncertainty: Addressing geopolitical risk and economic uncertainty while harnessing innovation for competitive advantage.
Responsible Technology Deployment: Focusing on practical, solutions-oriented pathways for transformative technologies such as generative AI.
Investing in People: Examining how governments and businesses can build resilient workforces, support skills transitions and improve well-being in an era of profound change.
Prosperity Within Planetary Boundaries: Advancing secure energy, nature and water systems while rebuilding prosperity sustainably.
At a series of private, invitation only breakfasts, luncheons and dinners, AIAC delegates and Explorers Club Members attended events hosted by Bloomberg, JPMorgan, CNBC, the Shafik Gabr Foundation, Edelman, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Economist, USA, Qatar, Ukraine, where they greeted the following business, financial, governmental and media leaders:
David Rubinstein, Chairman of Carlyle Group
Larry Fink, Chairman of Blackrock
Philip Hildebrand, Vice Chairman of Blackrock
Sanjay Bangar, Chairman, The World Bank
Christine LeGarde, President, the European Central Bank
Kristalina Georgieva, Chair, IMF
Yo Yo Ma, Virtuoso Cellist
Albert Bourla, Chairman of Pfizer
Jacob Safra, Chairman of Safra Bank
Jack Hidary, CEO, Sandbox AQ
Andrew Forrest, Founder and Chairman of Fortescue
Dr. Ken Lin, SVP of Global Investment and Senior Advisor to the Chairman of CP Group of Thailand
Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of JPMorgan Chase Asset and Wealth Management
Daniel Pinto, COO of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Stefan Bollinger, CEO, Bank Julius Baer
Mohammed Alardhi, Chairman of Investcorp
Shafik Gabr, Chairman, ARTOC and The Shafik Gabr Foundation
Mohammed Alardhi, Chairman of Investcorp
Richard Edelman, Chairman of Edelman
Stanley Bergman, Chairman and CEO, Henry Schein
Martin Sorrell, Founder, WPP plc
Matt Damon, Award winning actor
Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
Andrew Ross Sorkin, Anchor, CNBC, Financial Columnist, New York Times
Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, President of the Mayo Clinic
Sir Robin Christian Howard Niblet, Senior Advisor at Hakluyt & Company, Former Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of International Affairs-Chatham House
AIAC representatives attended panel discussions, presentations, receptions, and dinners hosted by Bloomberg, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan, the Economist, Edelman, EM Media Ventures, and Qatar.
AIAC colleagues Annette Selmeier and Deborah Brosnan attended the Annual Davos Opening Reception and Dinner of the Shafik Gabr Foundation. Entitled, “Expect the Unexpected: 2026 and Beyond,” the distinguished guests included global political, business, finance, philanthropic, medical, and journalism leaders, exchanging candid, off the record views of what lies on geo-political horizon for the year ahead. At the conclusion of the dinner, Dr. Brosnan recited the following poetic tribute entitled The Ballad of Shafik Gabr in honor of Shafik Gabr, the dinner’s host.
On the concluding day of the World Economic Forum, Friday, January 23, AIAC hosted the Annual AIAC – Explorers Club Davos Luncheon from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Held at the iconic AspenGold Hotel Davos, the celebration included Members, Fellows, and Medalists from the Explorers Club's global chapters, along with representatives of family office, venture capital, private equity and philanthropic organizations. Participants were invited to a light-hearted sing-along which included a dozen song parodies of popular Broadway hits, with themes drawn from current world headlines.
AIAC and its affiliates, Bradford Space, Champlain Cable, Canadian Kraft Paper Industries, and Super Alloy Manufacturing Solutions, are Partners of The Explorers Club, now celebrating its 122nd year.
AIAC Chairman and Explorers Club Trustee, L. M. Levie, issued the following statement:
“AIAC was proud to take part in the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, where we had the pleasure of reconnecting with valued friends, clients, and colleagues from around the world. Throughout the week, we joined world leaders, policymakers, and industry innovators in discussions on actionable strategies to advance progress on pressing issues including fair trade, security, workforce adaptation, and responsible governance. We are grateful for the chance to contribute our perspectives, establish new partnerships, and play a role in shaping a future driven by accelerating innovation."
"As a honored Partner of the Explorers Club, AIAC and its affiliates were privileged to join Explorers Club members in Davos and together champion the club’s vital mission of advancing scientific exploration across land, sea, and space. I note with particular pride the outsized presence and impact at the World Economic Forum in Davos by Explorers Club members, including Ken Griffin, Elon Musk, Eric Schmidt, Ray Dalio, Joel Myers, Sylvia Earle, Sandy Climan, Deborah Brosnan, and Adam Falkoff. The values of The Explorers Club bridge all partisan divides.”
“The AIAC delegation was equally pleased to greet members of the Economic Club of New York, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Yale CEO Summit, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Atlantic Council, the World Food Program, the Trilateral Commission, the International Rescue Committee, the International Crisis Group, the Royal Institute of Foreign Affairs-Chatham House, the Shafik Gabr Foundation, and the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation, devoted to dispute resolution and emergency crisis relief, causes which we support.”
For further information, please see:
https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/
About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a nonprofit organization best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a small town in the Swiss Alps. Since its creation in 1971, the forum has evolved into a major platform for global leaders to address pressing challenges, foster collaboration, and shape future agendas. Founded by Professor Klaus Schwab, a Swiss economist, the organization was initially called the European Management Forum and focused on introducing American management practices to European companies. However, its scope quickly broadened to include global economic, social, and political issues. In 1987, it was renamed the World Economic Forum to reflect this expanded mission. Schwab envisioned a space where leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society could work together to solve global problems. His philosophy of stakeholder capitalism, which prioritizes the interests of all stakeholders—employees, communities, and the environment—over those of shareholders alone, has been central to the forum's identity.
The WEF's annual Davos meeting has become a hallmark event, attracting heads of state, CEOs, academics, and activists from around the world. Held each January, the summit addresses a wide array of issues, including economic challenges like inflation and inequality, technological advancements such as AI and cybersecurity, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. The Davos summit is known for its high-profile speeches, panel discussions, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, which often lead to groundbreaking initiatives.
Beyond Davos, the WEF operates throughout the year by publishing influential reports like the Global Risks Report and Future of Jobs Report, which provide critical insights into emerging global challenges. It also supports initiatives such as the Climate Action Platform and the Global Shapers Community, which promote sustainability and youth leadership. Additionally, the forum facilitates partnerships between governments, businesses, and NGOs to address issues like poverty, health crises, and education gaps.
For more than five decades, the Forum has convened leaders from business, government, civil society, international organizations, academia and the next generation to make sense of global challenges and to move the world forward together. Today, as the world confronts interconnected crises such as climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical instability, the forum continues to serve as a unique platform for dialogue and innovation.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia-New Zealand. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products and serve as critical suppliers for the construction of major airports, schools, hospitals, performing arts and sports centers, offices and hotels throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. research. AIAC affiliate, Champlain Cable Corporation, supported the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space missions with high performance wire and cable. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler-Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary.
AIAC affiliate, Metallwarenfabrik Gemmingen GmbH, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance, emergency portable power generators utilized in global conflict zones and during natural disasters.
For further information, please see:
About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, exploration, and the performing arts.
The exploration-focused nonprofit organizations which they actively support include The Explorers Club, the National Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Space Society, and the United States Space Foundation.
AIAC's other beneficiaries include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the Sierra Club, the Trilateral Commission, and the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
For further information, please see:
https://www.aiac.com/our-values
About The Explorers Club
Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club is a prestigious international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Based at its historic headquarters in New York City, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide for over a century.
The Club's membership includes many of history's most renowned explorers and scientists, from polar explorers Robert Peary and Roald Amundsen to oceanic pioneers Jacques Cousteau and Robert Ballard, from aviation legends Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart to space pioneers like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Jim Lovell. The Club continues to support cutting-edge exploration in every realm—from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest peaks, from archaeological discoveries to space missions.
The Explorers Club is renowned for its rigorous standards of membership, requiring nominees to have made significant contributions to exploration or the sciences that advance our understanding of the world. The Club's Board of Trustees, Legacy Society, and various committees work to preserve the Club's mission while fostering new generations of explorers through grants, expeditions, and educational programs.
The Club's famous annual dinner, featuring exotic cuisine and presentations by leading explorers, has become legendary in New York society. More importantly, The Explorers Club continues to fund and support expeditions that push the boundaries of human knowledge, from climate research in Antarctica to biodiversity studies in remote rainforests to preparations for future Mars missions.
AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie serves as Member of its Board of Trustees and as Poet Laureate and Member of its Legacy Society. As Poet Laureate, Mr. Levie contributes to the Club's cultural mission by capturing the spirit of exploration through verse, honoring both historical achievements and contemporary discoveries that continue to expand the frontiers of human knowledge and experience.
For further information, please see:
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com
Images below: World Economic Forum
