Top Business Leaders to Headline at CTIA's WIRELESS 2000

Four of the world's leading business executives, Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Chris Gent of Vodafone AirTouch, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Keiji Tachikawa of NTT DoCoMo, will take center stage at the CTIA's WIRELESS 2000 convention and expo. The event, which will be held from February 28 to March 1 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, is the largest international telecommunications gathering of the year. These industry leaders have been recognized as the most influential figures in the converging world of wireless data, with Fortune Magazine and Business Week both featuring them in their lists of the "hottest business people in the world" and "Top Managers of the Year."

Key Takeaways:

• Amazon.com's CEO Jeff Bezos is Fortune Magazine's #1 business person to watch in 2000, with the magazine stating that "2000 is crunch time" for Bezos to prove that his company is running on more than just buzz.
• Vodafone CEO Chris Gent was selected by Fortune editors for the "People to Watch in 2000" list, and Business Week featured him on its "Top 25 Managers of the Year" list, noting his ability to "pull off bold deals" that have vaulted Vodafone into the global big leagues.
• Microsoft's Bill Gates is Fortune Magazine's choice for the "Hall of Ubiquity," and Amazon.com's Bezos and Microsoft's Gates are on Business Week's "Managers to Watch in 2000" roster.
• NTT DoCoMo's Keiji Tachikawa was featured on Business Week's "Top 25 Managers of the Year" list and will join the other industry leaders on the mainstage at CTIA's WIRELESS 2000.
• CTIA's President and CEO, Tom Wheeler, emphasized that WIRELESS 2000 is the place to get the scoop from the top business people of the year.

Statistics:

• Fortune Magazine's "People to Watch in 2000" list featured 12 business leaders, with Jeff Bezos ranked #1 (Fortune Magazine, January 10, 2000).
• Business Week's "Top 25 Managers of the Year" list featured 25 top managers, including Keiji Tachikawa (Business Week, January 10, 2000).
• WIRELESS 2000 is the largest international telecommunications event of the year, attracting thousands of attendees and industry leaders (CTIA, no date provided).
• 2000 is the year when the converging world of wireless data will become increasingly important, with the need for business leaders to prove their companies' success beyond "buzz" (Fortune Magazine, January 10, 2000).

Sources:

• Fortune Magazine, January 10, 2000
• Business Week, January 10, 2000
• CTIA (no date provided)