The rebound has already begun

"We've the economy bottom out in early May with indicators all around us that the recovery has started, confidence is driving an upswing in all market sectors".

With a positive outlook ahead, Frost & Sullivan's Chairman David Frigstad inspired the 120 plus CEOs and their growth teams that gathered in London last week for GIL 2009: Europe, Growth, Innovation and Leadership Congress on Corporate Growth. GIL Global is the industry's only event designed to support senior executives in their efforts to achieve sustainable, top-line growth.

"The real purpose of GIL is to focus on the CEO's number one top priority:
growth and now more than ever CEOs need to stay focused on their growth strategies," said Mr Frigstad, "We're looking at growth, innovation and leadership as three essential characteristics that enable companies to stay ahead of the competition and gain greater market share within their industries. Our thought leaders deliver the necessary tools, strategies, and best practices that help support CEOs and their growth teams."

Mr Frigstad's view of the current economic climate seemed to be shared by many industry luminaries in attendance providing their perspectives as growth thought leaders with congress participants. Mr Holger Schmieding, Bank of America's Chief Economist, confirmed that between April and May we reached the bottom: "Things cannot get any worse", says Mr Schmieding, "We will have a long time to deal with the consequences. There will be debris, but there are good news and good prospects in the long term".

Interactive panels with experts from regions all over the globe and from various market sectors captured the audience's attention and stimulated many questions leaving a solid impression among participants as the best "recession-strategy growth event" they've ever been privy to.

Earlier in the week, during a live television appearance on CNBC Europe, Mr Frigstad stated: "There is a tremendous amount of opportunities out there through industry convergence. One of the great advantages of bringing industries together and get them to network is to see what the key issues are impacting all the industries across the board and how to create opportunities to drive growth".  "It was very encouraging to see the excitement and drive from all the CEOs and their growth teams", says Frost & Sullivan's Partner John Raspin, Chairman of GIL 2009: Europe. "All of them enquiring about "what's next" and joining our global community for GIL 2010 in Europe." (17-19 May 2010)