Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO of Vivendi announced as first key note speaker at c&binet Forum

Valerie | 12 May 2009, 14:02

C&binet has announced the first key note speaker for the inaugural 2009 forum, taking place in Hertfordshire between October 26th- 28th 2009. Jean-Bernard Lévy , CEO of Vivendi, will address hundreds of international creative business leaders gathered for the event. 

Vivendi is a world leader in communications and entertainment. It is the number one publisher of video games and music in the world and a major player in television, film and telecommunications.  Its business reflects the growing interdependence of creative content production and distribution which will enable Jean-Bernard Levy to offer a unique perspective on the issues c&binet is tackling.

Speaking about the forum, Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO of Vivendi, said: “Creative content drives our industry.  That’s why C&binet is such a timely and significant initiative. The creative sector, driven by technological advances in TV, film and music through to video games and telecommunications, is rapidly evolving. We need to address the issues that arise from these transformations collectively. I’m really looking forward to everyone sharing ideas about how we can achieve this.”

Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for the UK Department for the Department of Culture Media & Sport (DCMS), commented: “This is a critical time for the creative industries. In recent months it has become increasingly clear that the single most important issue affecting all content creators and distributors is how to make sure that creativity is rewarded. The global economic situation has escalated the urgency and we must support the sector to find a solution. By bringing together international leaders from the creative economy with domestic and international policy makers, we hope to make real progress in the key issues which jeopardise the sector’s future.

“As well as addressing issues around content and IP protection, the c&binet forum is also an opportunity to develop new links which enable capital and investment to flow towards creative talent. Jean-Bernard Lévy’s experience of running one of the world’s biggest communications and entertainment companies will offer invaluable insight to this debate.”